5 Ways Working Too Quickly Can Actually Cost You More Time

There is a time and a place for just pushing through and getting the job done. In day-to-day life, it can be a straight-up necessity. That said, rushing through things can negatively impact your vision and attention to detail. It also can leave you in a compromising position, professionally speaking.

Here’s why.

Lack of Big-Picture Thinking

Let’s face it: Working deliberately and methodically gives you the time to evaluate what you’re producing, and it offers the opportunity to identify potential hazards or problem areas in advance so you can get the job done right — the first time.

Skipping Steps

If you work too quickly, you may be tempted to skip steps while in a flurry to complete a task. Then again, you may not even realize you’re doing it. Getting more done in a shorter amount of time, while appealing on the surface, can lead to sloppy work. And that will most likely wind up haunting you — and costing more time — later.

Making Mistakes

When you’re looking too far ahead trying to complete a task rather than focusing on the present, you are likely to overlook key details, introduce errors and end up having to revise or redo work that could have — and should have — been properly completed.

Increased Stress

When you’re in a rush, your anxiety level skyrockets. And when that happens, it’s harder to concentrate on the tasks at hand. In reality, slowing down and tackling projects at a reasonable, comfortable pace tends to make people more productive in the long run.

Marginalized Product

Because hurried work tends to yield scattershot results, you can all but bet the end result will wind up compromised. Handing over something less than your best work is a reflection on you — and it’s a poor one at that.