Meet Your Deadlines More Effectively

Find it difficult to keep up and meet deadlines? You’re hardly the only one. It’s a proven fact that deadlines affect everyone’s work performance. However, some of us deal with them slightly better than the rest.

First of all, we need to stop looking at deadlines as the end. Deadlines are very often imagined in nature. We tend to work up ourselves imagining a situational deadline that doesn't even exist! The D-word can be dealt with effectively; read on to find out how!

• Don’t ever accept a project you cannot deliver in time. I know we’re in the age of multitasking, but it’s important to be honest with ourselves. There are some things we cannot do! So be practical and avoid work that you know you won’t have time to finish or rather finish well!
• Prioritize. Assign to yourself a list each week. In the list pen down the chores, you need to meet and in which order. Scratch out with each passing day, the tasks you’re done with. Trust me, with each passing scratch your level of motivation will only increase!
• Never work when your mind is cluttered. Free your mind. Half the battle is won there. Like I said before, deadlines are often imagined. We put ourselves in a very tricky situation and then hardly perform to the best of our capabilities. Stay calm and composed. You’ll achieve much more.
• Break your tasks into smaller, manageable pieces. Set a daily goal post. Achieve each day’s goal and see yourself achieving the final goal in the stated time! This is sure to bring discipline and organization to your daily work routine.
• Reward yourself. So you delivered all that you were supposed to? What now? Well step out and buy that dress you've been eyeing. Give yourself a positive reinforcement. This will work wonders for you in the future. Every time you find yourself slacking on a deadline remind yourself of the earlier one you achieved. A reward goes a long way in ensuring positive results.

Alright then, you know how to go ahead and plan to meet your deadlines. But, don’t be kidding yourself. Be prepared to miss a deadline once in a while. We’re all human after all. Be ready for those days when you just miss a deadline by a few hours. The best way to get out of a situation like that would be to call your client or boss. Inform them.

Communication is key to ensuring that you are given a few extra hours to complete the stated task.

Finally; make a commitment to yourself! You’re always setting up commitments to others. For once assign a commitment to yourself. Let it be something simple like I will maintain a dairy, I will start gardening, or simply I will learn to cook! Set up a deadline. Make sure you maintain the deadline. It is only when you achieve your personal goal in the stated personal deadline will you be motivated to meet your professional deadlines! So go on and meet the deadly D!