Precrastinators are as bad as procrastinators. Here's how to avoid it.

While procrastination may be seen as one of the biggest downfalls when it comes to productivity, there's actually another phenomenon that sits on the opposite end of the spectrum — and apparently it can be just as bad.

It's called 'precrastination', and it's the method of managing tasks by getting them done as soon as possible — usually before it even needs to be completed. Which kind of sounds like it should be a good thing... right?

"Putting off a task until the last second, whether at home, at university or work is called procrastination and this is something that is widely researched. However, there are also many people who prefer to complete their tasks immediately instead of postponing them. This is called 'precrastination'," psychologist Carly Dober from Enriching Lives Psychology told Mamamia.

Watch: 5 Tips to End Procrastination. Post continues.

While it might sound like a positive thing, rushing to get tasks done as soon as possible — whether it be replying to emails or doing a load of washing before it builds up — according to experts, can be just as unhealthy.

"Precrastination is not just the opposite of procrastination. It is a strategic investment of one type of energy (physical) to save mental energy," explained Dober.

So what does it mean if you're a precrastinator? And how do you know when you need to pull it back? 

Here's everything you need to know.

Why do people precrastinate?

"People may engage in precrastination for a range of reasons," Dober told Mamamia. "They may wish to get things like paying bills or responding back to emails out of the way simply because they don't want to think about them anymore."

Can anyone else relate? It's like that method of 'eat the frog' — that is, tackling the hardest task first so you can cross it off the list and get it off your mind.

"They may wish to be proactive in lightening their cognitive load, they might have anxiety about the particular task and wish to get it out of the way, or because they know they might be time poor over the coming hours/days/weeks," she added.

What does it mean if you are a precrastinator?

"Research into precrastination tells us that people who engage in this type of behaviour tend to be highly rational and eager to show that they're worthy of responsibility," said Dober. "They also enjoy feeling like they have been productive and have checked things off of their 'to do' list."

Meaning? You don't like tasks lingering in the back of your mind. If you're someone who strives to check off all those tasks — however menial or mundane it is — before it becomes a 'thing' that stresses you out or makes you anxious, this is you. And while it might sound like a good thing, chasing the sweet relief of 'checking things off' can have its downsides.

As research shows, doing things sooner rather than later can also come at an added cost, often involving extra effort — whether that be physical, mental, emotional or financial.

Whether it's going to the airport extra early to stand around with your cases and spend a ridiculous amount of money on the breakfast you could've had at home, or replying to a bunch of emails just to get them out of your inbox, sometimes precrastination comes at a cost.

Is precrastination better or worse than procrastination?

"Both precrastination and procrastination have their downsides," Dober tells us. (And remember, we're talking about these as two extremes). "People who engage in procrastination can often not actually get things done that they need to, making their lives more stressful and then impacting their self-esteem."

On the other hand, precrastination can push people to rush through tasks and do a sub-par job of them, which ultimately ends up causing even more anxiety and stress in the long run. "Precrastinators can sometimes from the risk of rushing to get things done and having the quality of their work or tasks be subpar which then can stress them out, too." 

Sigh.

"Like most things, engaging in any of these behaviours too frequently can impact your quality of life. It would likely be a personal preference thing — I prefer to get things done so things don't pile up and I get too stressed when I have too many things on my to-do list." 

What's the best way to manage tasks?

"Remind yourself that it's not always best to get things done immediately, and some things do take more time," said Dober. "Remind yourself about perspective; the world will probably keep turning if this task does not get done within the next five minutes."

"If you feel frazzled — go for a short walk or go have a cup of tea. Chances are, you'll likely make a mistake if you respond to an email or a complete a project when you’re feeling frazzled and taking some time out might help."

If the mere suggestion of letting tasks take the backseat fills you with dread, Dober suggested writing down what you need to do that day and sticking to that list. "If other things pop up, assess whether they're urgent or not before acting on them."

"Talk to your friends or family about what might be driving you to engage in this behaviour, and explore what it means to you. Some people pressure themselves an awful amount, and engage in tendencies that drive some perfectionistic behaviours. If you're finding it difficult to change this habit and this is something that you want to work on, consider seeing a psychologist relate be able to help you a bit more."

Are you a precrasinator or a procrastinator? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Feature image: Canva.