Pre-crastination and the Science of Doing Too Much, Too Soon

Tendencies to tackle tasks as soon as possible can come with hidden costs.

Reviewed by Lybi Ma

Key points

• Pre-crastination is the tendency to tackle tasks as soon as possible, even at the cost of extra effort.
• Pre-crastination is motivated by a human desire to clear mental clutter and easy cognitive load.
• It can help to pause, prioritise, and plan ahead to keep your inner pre-crastinator in check.

We’ve all heard of procrastination—the art of putting off until tomorrow (or next year) what could be done today. But have you met its hyper-enthusiastic cousin, pre-crastination? Instead of lounging on the couch while deadlines loom, the pre-crastinator is busy answering emails seconds after they arrive or carrying a heavier load of groceries just to avoid a second trip.

Coined by psychologist David Rosenbaum and colleagues in 2014, pre-crastination is the tendency to tackle tasks as soon as possible, even at the cost of extra effort. Why do people pre-crastinate and is it as heroic as it seems?

The Science of Doing Too Much, Too Soon

Imagine you’re standing in a room with two buckets: one close to you, the other farther away. Both need to be carried to the finish line, but which one would you grab first? Logic says the farther bucket—you’d save effort by walking less with it. But most people, in Rosenbaum’s original bucket experiment chose the closer one, opting for a longer carry. They wanted to clear their mental to-do list, as soon as possible. Welcome to pre-crastination in action.

More recent studies introduced a creative twist to understanding pre-crastination through so-called double-response reaction time tasks. In these experiments, participants were required to make two sequential decisions for each trial. The first response was made quickly, while the second allowed for potential reflection and revision. Researchers measured the time and accuracy of each response to uncover the dynamics of decision-making. The results were striking: Participants consistently spent more time on the first decision, prioritizing careful consideration, and rarely revised their initial choice. This pattern of behaviour highlighted a strong preference for resolving cognitive tasks upfront, minimizing the mental effort required to revisit decisions later. Rather than acting impulsively, as one might expect, participants demonstrated a deliberate effort to "think first, act once," a defining characteristic of pre-crastination.

Why Do We Pre-crastinate?

Research shows that pre-crastination stems from a deep-seated desire to reduce cognitive load. The cognitive load-reduction hypothesis suggests that our brains crave clarity and order. By tackling tasks early or making decisions upfront, we free up working memory for other demands and avoid the mental strain of juggling too many unresolved options. One factor influencing this behaviour is self-control. Individuals with higher self-control are more inclined to initiate tasks sooner—not out of impulsiveness, but to alleviate mental clutter and regain focus. It’s less about rushing decisions and more about creating a sense of mental calm. For example, you might book that vacation months ahead, even if it means missing out on a last-minute deal. Think of it as the mental equivalent of Marie Kondo-ing your life—clearing the clutter to spark a little cognitive joy!

Pre-crastination vs. Procrastination

While procrastination is the villain of missed deadlines, pre-crastination may be a misguided superhero. Sure, it feels productive to finish things early, but sometimes that “productivity” leads to inefficiency. Consider submitting a project draft too soon, only to realize it needed more polish—or, as researchers discovered, choosing to carry the closer bucket and exhausting yourself in the process.

A few pointers may help to keep your inner pre-crastinator in check:

1. Pause Before You Act
   If pre-crastination is your go-to mode, train yourself to pause. Take a moment to consider whether rushing through the task will save you time or create extra work.
2. Chunk Your Tasks
   Breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks can reduce the cognitive load without sacrificing efficiency. Instead of rushing to finish everything, focus on completing meaningful sections.
3. Learn to prioritise
   Not all tasks are created equal. Develop a habit of prioritising based on importance and impact. Pre-crastination might make sense for quick, low-effort tasks, but big decisions deserve thoughtful deliberation.
4. Use Your Calendar Wisely
   Spread your workload across the week. Pre-crastinators often front-load tasks, leading to burnout. A balanced schedule helps maintain energy and focus.

Whether you’re a bucket-carrying pre-crastinator or a chronic procrastinator, take a moment to reflect on your personal tendencies (but not too long). The sweet spot likely lies somewhere in the middle: act when it’s time, wait when it’s wise, and remember that clearing your mental clutter doesn’t mean overloading your physical or emotional self.