Planning Fallacy

The planning fallacy is a cognitive bias that leads people to underestimate the time it will take them to complete a task.

The planning fallacy often results in people starting tasks later than they should, which can cause them to fall behind schedule. It is rooted in the idea of optimistic bias, which is the tendency for people to underestimate the time it will take them to complete a task.

This bias can lead students to procrastinate on their assignments, or employees to put off starting a project until the last minute.

How can you avoid the planning fallacy?

There are a few ways that you can avoid the planning fallacy and stay on track with your goals. First, it is important to be realistic about the time it will take you to complete a task.

It is often helpful to break down a task into smaller steps, and then estimate the time it will take you to complete each step. This will give you a more accurate estimate of the time it will take you to complete the task as a whole.

Additionally, it is important to give yourself some buffer time in case you run into any unforeseen delays. Finally, it is helpful to set deadlines for yourself, and to communicate these deadlines to others who may be waiting on your completion of the task.

The planning fallacy can lead to missed deadlines and lost opportunities. However, by being aware of the bias and taking steps to avoid it, you can stay on track with your goals and avoid falling behind.

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