Why rushing is bad for your brain, according to neuroscience

Picture this on any weekday morning - you finally wake up after putting your alarm on snooze for many times, realise you are late, rush through a shower and grab leftovers in the name of breakfast, only to realise that you are late, yet again. While this might sound like a pretty harmless scenario, and something we all struggle with in our daily life, however, according to neuroscience, rushing is extremely detrimental for our brain. Let's dig deeper...

Rushing triggers the body's stress response
When you rush, your brain believes you are in danger, even if you’re just late for a meeting or trying to finish your to-do list. This triggers the “fight-or-flight” response, flooding your body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are useful if you need to escape real danger, but when released too often, they can lead to anxiety, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even digestive problems.


Can damage brain if chronic
If you are always rushing, your body stays in this stressed state. Over time, this chronic stress can damage important parts of your brain, like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning, focusing, and decision-making. When stress levels are high, this part of the brain does not work well, making it harder to think clearly, remember things, and make good decisions.

Makes you less productive
You might think rushing helps you get more done, but neuroscience says the opposite. When you hurry, your attention drops, and you are more likely to make mistakes. You also become less creative and worse at solving problems because your brain is overloaded and can’t process new ideas properly. In fact, studies show that even waiting a few minutes before making a decision can help you make a better choice.

Can harm your health
The constant feeling of being rushed is sometimes called “hurry sickness.” This state is linked to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, and even a higher risk of heart disease. People with hurry sickness often feel exhausted, skip meals, and don’t sleep well, which weakens the immune system and makes them more likely to get sick.

You lose control
High levels of stress hormones can actually “shut down” the rational part of your brain. This makes you more impulsive and less able to control your actions, which can lead to risky decisions—like making a dangerous turn while driving just because you’re running late. Even small increases in stress chemicals can weaken the connections in your brain that help you think clearly and stay calm.


What is the solution?
Well it is a given that you can't be late always (a one off slip up is okay), so if you find yourselves struggling with rushing in that moment, the trick lies in starting a day early or at least a couple of hours early. For example, if you have a wedding to attend in the evening, lay out your clothes in the morning, and break it down to the last element - shoes, jewelry, even your perfume. Similarly, get yourself ready for work a night before by planning all your meals, prepping some part of it, and even ironing your clothes etc. This will not only avoid rushing and stress, it will also save a whole lot of time, that in turn, can be utilized in doing something more productive.