The Urgency Addiction

Some of us get so used to the adrenaline rush of handling crises that we become dependent on it for a sense of excitement, energy and achievement. How does urgency feel? Stressful, Pressured, Anxious, Tense are some of the answers we receive. But let us be honest. Is it exciting? Don’t we feel important? Don’t we get hooked on to that title of problem-solver or crisis manager?

Yes. We get a temporary high from solving the urgent and important problems. It almost becomes our second nature and then we start looking for crisis. Now, this process may not happen consciously, but surely, we get drawn towards challenges (Crises invariably have this knack of turning into challenges) just to stay in motion. It’s a status symbol in our society to be busy. It makes us feel important, so much so that we feel embarrassed sometimes to admit that you’ve no work.

“I just don’t have time to exercise. I know its important, but there are so many pressing things right now. May be when things slow down a little.”

Urgency addiction is a self-destructive behaviour that temporarily fills the void created by unmet needs. And instead of meeting these needs, the tools and approaches of time management often feed the addiction. They keep us focused on daily prioritization of the urgent. You will be amazed to see the similarities between the following symptoms and characteristics of urgency addiction and any other addiction like gambling, overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs and so on.

The Addictive Experience:

Creates predictable, reliable sensations

Becomes the primary focus and absorbs attention

Temporarily eradicates pain and other negative sensations

Provides artificial sense of self-worth, power, control, Security, intimacy and accomplishment

Exacerbates the problems and feelings it is sought to remedy Worsens functioning, creates loss of relationships

It is important to realise that urgency itself is not the problem. The problem is that when urgency is the dominant factor in our lives, importance isn’t. We are so caught up in doing the urgent things that we don’t even stop to ask whether what we are doing really needs to be done. As a result we expand the gap between the COMPASS and the CLOCK.

Many of the traditional time management tools actually work towards widening this gap and feed the urgency addiction. Daily planning and “to do” lists always keep us focused on doing the urgent. And the fact is, the more urgency we have in our life, the less importance we have.