Pressure

Would we get anywhere if it weren't for pressure? Seriously. Social pressure. Pressure at school. Pressure at work. I mean it's uncomfortable, but isn't that exactly what enables us to get stuff done?

I suppose, it is first important to establish what is meant by pressure. For the purposes of this brief discussion, let's say that pressure constitutes external regulation, such as reinforcement or punishment, or action (or inaction) or behavior (or lack thereof).

It's clear that pressure can make stuff get done. We had a 10-15 "historical fiction" paper due for history class in 10th grade. I saved the majority of my rough draft revisions for the morning of the due date. Though that was quite uncomfortable, and I'd like to think that my experience with that encouraged me *not* to procrastinate, it's nevertheless impressive to look back upon what I was able to accomplish within one hour by waking up extra early around 5:30 to make my changes before leaving to catch the morning bus at 6:30. Same with PERSIA notes. 40, 50 pages of reading and summarization in one night. Phew.

It seems to me that doing that kind of work without an external impetus is not only tougher, but less likely, because it would have required me to muster up willpower to get myself out of bed. I would have required some other form of motivation other than "Do it, or your grade is screwed."

I had a period of my life when I was relatively pressure-free. Free from external pressure, that is. During that time, I began to work on a group project with some friends, concerned with developing video-based analytics for COVID-19. Not once do I recall waking up early to work on the project. I put in effort, but the impetus wasn't enough for me to get myself out of bed early and dedicate myself to the project.

But isn't it a circular argument? The only reason we would get out of bed would be due to pressure. But if we are under pressure, that would make us work harder. I agree with the second statement, but not the first. There is an element of internal discipline and motivation that can be generated. It is one that is high in certain individuals. In such individuals, their internal motivation gets them out of bed, in addition to pressure.

With that said, it certainly could have been possible. I could have undertaken the discipline, responsibility, and dedication required to achieve great goals. But I didn't. Perhaps I would have worked harder on that project if I had more pressure, such as from my friends, family, or project partners/supervisors.

So, what is the whole purpose of this discussion? Well, until now, the discussion has been centered around the role of pressure in increasing productivity. But, simply leaving it at that would feel incomplete. After all, it isn't very responsible to leave something so important as our career or productivity habits at the mercurial direction of the "outside world," so to speak.

Perhaps, therefore, this is why it is considered virtuous to undertake responsibility by one's own choice, and to, as Dr. Peterson says "carry one's burden on one's shoulder uphill."