
Precrastination: why finishing a task early can ease the mind at a physical cost
Researchers describe precrastination: people often rush to complete a subtask to reduce the mental load of keeping it in mind, even if it costs extra physical effort. The classic bucket study showed participants grab the nearer bucket and carry more distance to free working memory sooner, a trade-off that fits the cognitive-load-reduction idea and has been seen in follow-up work across humans and even pigeons (though results vary). It’s a common, non-flawed trade-off: finishing early can save mental bandwidth, but waiting can be optimal in some situations.













