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Working Better Under Pressure is a Myth
One of the crutches procrastinators use is the misguided belief that they work better under pressure. Studies show that no one works better under pressure, so why do people believe they do well when they are up against a time crunch? Psychologists say it’s a soothing technique used to feel less guilty about putting things off.
Our Subconscious Knows What We Are — and Aren’t — Doing
Our minds have an inner guidance system that reminds us of all the obligations and activities we have on our plates. When we start slacking and failing to meet our obligations, our egos protect us from condemnation and any internal dialogue that can cause shame or guilt. While our minds know what tasks we should be completing, our ego protects us from feeling bad about it by supporting the belief we can actually perform better if we wait.
You Aren’t More Capable Under Pressure
When you wait until the last minute to tackle a task, you don’t become smarter or more capable. You simply laser-focus your energy and resources and cut off all distractions to get things done. The pressure really doesn’t open up your level of genius, it simply becomes your task master. Studies show that pressure actually diminishes your ability to regulate your emotions, make smart decisions, and use your best judgement.
