Settle for Less Rushing

From rushing out the door in the morning to chasing the bus, some days life feels like one big blur. I know I don’t feel good when I rush. Physically, I feel sweaty; mentally, I feel exhausted.

Rushing, whether driven by external time constraints or pressure we put on ourselves, can negatively affect our cognitive functioning and emotional well-being. Sussman and Sekuler (2022) conducted a controlled laboratory experiment in which participants were made to feel rushed. Participants who felt rushed responded faster but less accurately; they had less ability to filter out distracting information, and their stress and negative affect increased. These effects reversed when the feeling of being rushed left.

Settle for less rushing by trying some of these tips:

1. Prioritize. Not everything needs to get done right now. Decide what needs your attention now and what you can schedule for later.

2. Say no. You don't have to accept every invitation, request, or responsibility. Sometimes saying no to others means saying yes to yourself.

3. Ask for help. You don't have to do everything yourself. Sharing responsibilities reduces your workload.

4. Focus rather than multitask. Trying to do several things at once can leave you feeling scattered and overwhelmed. Finish a task before moving on to the next.

5. Plan before acting. Taking a moment to think through your next steps can save time and prevent unnecessary scrambling.