Rushing: Definition, Examples, and How to Stop

By Eser Yilmaz, M.S., Ph.D.
Reviewed by Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.

Do you often feel like you are racing against time? Read on to understand the definition and causes of rushing and find out how you can rush less.

Rushing: Definition, Examples, and How to Stop

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A lot of people I interact with complain about the same problem: having too many things to do but not enough time to do them, and they are stuck in a daily cycle of rushing. When asked for a tip, I suggest taking things slower and being more mindful while carrying out each task. Upon hearing my counterintuitive suggestion, some assume I must be joking, whereas others look surprised. After all, how can anyone reach their goals by slowing down?

If you or someone you care about hurries from dawn until bedtime, you might be familiar with rushing, and this article is for you. In this piece, you will discover what rushing means and its causes. Moreover, you will also improve your understanding of the consequences of rushing and find out what you can do to rush less.

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What Is Rushing? (A Definition)

Sometimes we genuinely race against the clock, such as when we try to catch a flight. Yet many people rush day after day as they try to accomplish every task on their to-do lists. But what exactly is rushing?

We can define rushing as the behavioral output associated with the perception of a time shortage (Szollos, 2009). In simpler terms, when we feel pressed for time, we react by rushing so that we can get things done quicker. This reaction makes sense when we are genuinely short on time, such as when we run to our gate at the airport minutes before our flight is scheduled to take off. Yet, rushing isn’t warranted for many activities we do in a state of haste.

To figure out whether we should rush or not, we need to understand why we feel the need to rush. Only then can we start to rush less. But before we can discuss the causes of rushing and how to avoid rushing all the time, let’s talk about the opposite of rushing.

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Opposite of Rushing

Rushing is a complex reaction, and we can define the opposite of rushing simply by considering the saying “to stop and smell the roses,” which urges us to take our time to appreciate the beauty and joy of life we often ignore. Therefore, we can divide this saying into two core principles: slowing down and being present in the moment.

Rushing vs. Slowing Down
If rushing is moving or acting in a hurry to get as much done as possible, slowing down is the exact opposite behavior. When we slow down, we deliberately take our time with our tasks. As a result, we may take longer to reach our goals. However, the advantage of slowing down is fewer mistakes and often a better product or more desirable outcome. Here is an interesting video covering how slowing down when we feel the urge to speed up can sometimes save our lives.

Video: When You Feel the Need To Speed Up, Slow Down

Rushing vs. Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a mental state that involves being in the present moment. When we are mindful, we are aware of our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and environment without judging them (Hofmann & Gomez, 2017). Hence, mindfulness is associated with nonjudgmentally experiencing what is happening right now and right here.

When we rush, we keep our focus on the finish line and fail to experience the process thoroughly. In other words, when we rush, all we care about is the ending and miss out on everything that makes it worth reaching the goal. Imagine watching a movie. Of course, you’d want to know what happens in the end. But would it make sense to pay very little attention during most of the movie and fast-forward to the last scene? If you do that, you might not enjoy the movie much and have very little understanding of the last scene. However, that is what we do when we rush; we fast-forward to the last scene of everything.

Signs and Examples of Rushing

How do you know whether you are rushing too much or not? Here are a few signs with examples that are associated with excessive rushing.

Being results-oriented in everything. Rushers want to reach the finish line, and they want to get there as fast as they can. Therefore, they may be inattentive to the process as they hurry to the goal. For instance, a person who doesn’t rush may take their time to read a book, analyze each paragraph or page, appreciate well-written passages, and fully digest the story or information presented by the author. A rushing person may be more interested in finishing the book as quickly as possible and fail to appreciate the details they skimmed over.
Everything can turn into a race. From grocery shopping to commuting, rushers may treat every task like a race.
Perpetual multitasking. Sometimes we can get away with doing more than one thing at a time, such as folding laundry while talking to a friend over the phone. However, this is only possible when one or more of these tasks are easy, low-stakes, and require little to no continued attention so that we can focus our efforts on the more demanding task. However, a rushing person always attempts to multitask because they want to finish their tasks as soon as possible, even when all these tasks demand close attention.
Delays are unbearable. A rushing person can’t stand waiting. Maybe it is the long checkout line at the grocery store or the slow traffic during the morning rush. The longer a rushing person waits, the more agitated and anxious they become.

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Causes of Rushing

You might be hurrying from one task to another, but have you ever considered what might be the real reasons why you are always in a rush? Here are some of the most common causes of rushing.

Societal Expectations and Norms
Some societies, such as the United States, consider busyness as a sign of productivity and status (Bellezza, Paharia & Keinan, 2017). In these societies, people believe that the busier they are, the more productive and successful they appear. Hence, many of us pack our schedules with numerous tasks and allocate the bare minimum time commitment to each item. As a result, we do our best to finish each task as quickly as possible to move on to the next item on our schedules. Paradoxically, this rushing can lead to subpar results and is often the cause of sloppy mistakes that we could avoid if we’d taken our time to do the same task.

There seem to be gender-based societal norms as well. With changing attitudes towards gender roles, more men have been contributing to household chores and childcare. Nevertheless, most of the household and family duties are still completed by women regardless of their employment status (Lyonette & Crompton, 2015). For instance, men who earn less than their partners carry out more household chores than men who are the primary breadwinners. Nonetheless, women who earn more than their partners are still burdened with the lion’s share of domestic work (Lyonette & Crompton, 2015). In other words, most working women return home from their jobs to a so-called second shift of unpaid domestic work, spending more time performing various chores than their partners. It isn’t surprising that many women end up rushing throughout their days, trying to cram as many tasks into their schedules as possible.

Self-Importance
Do you know anyone who never seems to have time for you or rushes through anything they do with others? Suppose you try to schedule a meeting with them. In that case, they may tell you how packed their schedule is, giving the impression that everything on their calendar is more important than the meeting you are trying to schedule. Now assume that you finally had a chance to meet with them to discuss a project. This time they might keep rushing the discussion to move on to the next task on their schedule.

Undoubtedly, some of these busy people are occupied with a hefty load of essential tasks, are in a perpetual rush, and can interact with others only briefly. Yet, others rush through their social interactions to proclaim their stature. In other words, these individuals see rushing as a means to validate their self-importance.

Lack of Prioritization
Some of us hurry from one task to the next and rush through each as if all of them are utterly crucial. But is it really true that all of the tasks we have are of great importance? Sometimes we misjudge the value and significance of the tasks on our to-do lists and fail to prioritize them. As a result, we act as if everything is an emergency that must be done immediately.

Procrastination
Procrastination may appear similar to lack of prioritization since it is another form of time misuse. However, in this case, an individual may spend their time mostly doing trivial things while delaying truly essential tasks until the last moment. For instance, a college student who has a week to complete an assignment may spend most of her week socializing or playing video games instead of studying. As a result, she might start doing her assignment the night before it is due and end up rushing to be able to submit it on time.

Have you ever bought something you didn’t need because you were compelled that it was a one-time opportunity? Many retailers use sales tactics to establish a sense of urgency in the minds of their potential customers. Phrases such as “hurry, this offer won’t last!” or “limited time only” can make people rush into a hasty decision to buy a product. Unfortunately, scammers also use similar tactics to coerce their victims. For example, a scammer may tell you over the phone that your bank account has been frozen, and you must confirm your account information immediately to unlock it.

Impatience
Some of us are not quite as patient as others. We may start a diet but get frustrated when we don’t notice any benefits immediately. Or maybe we want to crochet a cute purse or a blanket but don’t want to spend hours holding a hook and a yarn. Instead, we order a similar product from an online retailer. Sometimes it is a lengthy novel that we don’t have the patience to read. After all, if that 900-page book is indeed a masterpiece, someone will surely turn it into a 90-minute motion picture soon anyway. Hence, when we don’t have the patience to do most things, we rush through our tasks to get to the results as quickly as possible.

Consequences of Rushing

Sure, rushing can help us reach the finish line faster, but it has a few adverse consequences you might want to keep in mind. Let’s discuss some of the most common consequences of rushing.

Rushing Contributes to Stress and Anxiety
Stress is the alarm system of our bodies that is associated with an alert state. When stressed out, our bodies initiate a fight-or-flight response to increase our chances of survival (Dhabhar, 2018). For instance, if you were to wander in the woods and face a bear, your body would trigger this alarm state, which would give you a boost of energy to either fight the bear or run away from it as fast as you can.

Although the occasional fight-or-flight response can help us deal with emergencies (such as running away from a bear), treating everything we do like an emergency can keep our stress reaction perpetually active and elevate our anxiety levels (Hart, 1995). In other words, we would be living with alarm bells ringing all the time.

Rushing May Lead to Burnout
We may benefit in the short run when we rush to accomplish many things. Yet, forcing ourselves to do a lot in a short time isn’t sustainable for many of us. As a result, we may feel exhausted and lose the will and motivation to reach the finish line. Eventually, we may feel burnt out and give up on our long-term goals.

Mistakes and Negative Incidents
Rushing involves acting or moving as quickly as possible. Therefore, we don’t get to process every piece of information thoroughly. Therefore, we end up moving too quickly to catch our mistakes or make faulty decisions in haste. Many traffic accidents or embarrassing blunders can be avoided with less rushing.

Low Self-Care
Many people who are always in a rush tend to neglect self-care. This attitude is associated with perceiving everything else as an emergency and self-care as something that can be done later. As a result, they might ignore their physical and mental well-being until they experience a breakdown or health emergency.

How to Rush Less

Now that we understand the major causes and consequences of rushing, we can address them to help us slow down and enjoy everything we do better. Here are some tips to get you started.

Prioritize. Not everything on your to-do list is an emergency. Surely, some of your tasks are more important and urgent than the others. Yet, according to the Pareto principle, only a small fraction of your tasks is likely much more important than everything else. Try to figure out which tasks need to be completed soon and focus your energy on completing those.
Manage your time. Time management is essential for getting everything done on time. Do you have a big project due next month? Try working on it for about an hour every day, so you don’t rush to finish it a few days before it is due. Using a calendar to plan your week or month can help you divide large projects into smaller chunks.
Be open about your time restrictions. Sometimes we take on more tasks than we can handle. If you have more things to do than you can handle, you may feel the need to rush. If you are asked to do something but don’t have adequate time to finish it due to other obligations, let the other person know. Say no if you need to and set boundaries when necessary.
Be mindful. Sometimes it is hard to be patient when all we want is to reach our goals. But practicing mindfulness can help you understand what is happening around you and give you a deep appreciation of the process.
Rethink your recurring tasks. Are you struggling with getting domestic chores done? If you live with others, consider asking them to help more or start taking turns. You may also think about how often you need to do specific tasks. For instance, you may have very little wiggle room regarding how often you need to water your houseplants, but you might be able to get away with vacuuming the living room less often.
Expect the Unexpected. Try to be ready for unknowns such as a traffic jam on your way to a meeting, a medical emergency in your busiest week, or a missing ingredient for a meal. Allowing extra time for the items on your to-do list can help you avoid the additional stress caused by hurdles and still get done on time without rushing.
Don’t multitask. Our brains can process one thing at a time. Unless your secondary task demands no attention, you might want to refrain from multitasking. For instance, texting while driving is never a good idea since you can’t pay attention to the road while typing or reading. Instead, it would be best to wait to respond to a text message once you park your car. In other words, resisting the urge to multitask can be essential for the integrity of what you’re doing and even ensure your safety.
Slow down. Finally, consider slowing down and processing all available information when working on a task. Hasty decisions may lead to regret in the long run. If someone is pressuring you to make a quick decision, tell them you need more time to process all of your options. This advice is also proper for romantic bonds. Sometimes we might have intense feelings for the other person at the start of a relationship, which may subside once we get to know them better. Moving too quickly may make us feel trapped in a doomed relationship.

Slowing down also helps when you harbor negative emotions such as anger or hurt. For instance, an erratic driver can irritate you. But taking a deep breath and slowing down your emotional reaction can help you avoid a pointless road argument or an accident.

Here is a video regarding how slowing down can help you reach your goals.

Video: Slow Down to Go Faster - The Power of Pause

Quotes on Rushing

“The journey matters as much as the destination. By engaging in the moment on set, I've stopped rushing and now find pleasure in the collaborative process - the characters, the costumes - rather than worrying about the finished product.” — Michelle Dockery
“I have always been a very patient person, I am a perfectionist but have a high level of patience and think that's one of the things when I started my comeback that really helped... I wasn't rushing anything as long as I knew I was on the right track.” — Tommy Fleetwood
“When running to fill a time quota, however, the reverse happens. You can't make that time pass any faster by rushing, so you settle into a pace that feels right to you at the moment. Each minute above a quota is a little victory.” — Joe Henderson
“The environmental crisis is all a result of rushing.” — Ed Begley, Jr.
“I think that's what happens when you get scared, and you're rushing, and you don't have time. Rather than cut things out and take a chance, and build things up you think are working, you cut everything down a little bit, and everything sort of suffers.” — Tom Noonan

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Articles Related to Rushing

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Books Related to Rushing

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Final Thoughts on Rushing

Many of us hurry to get things done as quickly as possible. Doing so may mean that we don’t get to enjoy the process and make mistakes along the way. Rushing less can lower our stress levels, reduce errors in our tasks, prevent us from burnout, and increase our life satisfaction and well-being. If we understand why we rush, we can find ways to slow things down and smell the roses. We hope you took your time reading this article and found a few nuggets of wisdom that might help you rush less.

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References

Bellezza, S., Paharia, N., & Keinan, A. (2017). Conspicuous consumption of time: When busyness and lack of leisure time become a status symbol. Journal of Consumer Research, 44(1), 118-138.
Dhabhar F. S. (2018). The short-term stress response - Mother nature's mechanism for enhancing protection and performance under conditions of threat, challenge, and opportunity. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 49, 175–192.
Hart, A. D. (1995). Adrenaline and stress: the exciting new breakthrough that helps you overcome stress damage. Thomas Nelson.
Hofmann, S. G., & Gómez, A. F. (2017). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Anxiety and Depression. The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 40(4), 739–749.
Lyonette, C., & Crompton, R. (2015). Sharing the load? Partners’ relative earnings and the division of domestic labour. Work, employment and society, 29(1), 23-40.
Szollos, A. (2009). Toward a psychology of chronic time pressure: Conceptual and methodological review. Time & Society, 18(2-3), 332-350.

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