Why do we really break deadlines and how can we stop it?

Are you upset that you don’t have time to submit your work on time? We know many people would enjoy a game that turns time around like the characters in Harry Potter, but do we really use our precious minutes more productively or is this self-deception? We tell you how to manage everything so you don’t have to worry about deadlines.

Set a “personal” deadline

As scary as the word “deadlines” sounds, the truth is that we would be less organized without them. According to Parkinson’s law, work fills the allotted time. That’s why we are surprised that we can do a week’s work in a few minutes. Therefore, it is important to set your own deadline in advance. Let the most important tasks be done in advance and leave the rest for later. This will help increase efficiency and save nerves.

Learn to say no

The proverb says, “Take what you carry with you to avoid falling while walking.” We often take on more tasks than we can handle. It is inconvenient for us to reject a personal request from our boss, so we work overtime. Productivity decreases due to fatigue, so other work that can be done in advance accumulates and is not ready at X time. It would be better to directly inform your manager about your priority tasks, and then decide together whether to take on additional tasks or delegate them to a less busy employee.

Representative

No successful businessman has accomplished everything alone. Focus on key areas and delegate minor tasks to colleagues. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. In this way, you will save power and energy and increase your work efficiency.

Start as early as possible

If you’ve already decided on important tasks, start doing them sooner, even if the deadlines haven’t arrived yet. This way you will get to the heart of the matter faster and gather more information. You will also have the opportunity to discuss business issues with colleagues to find a more original solution. Even the act of creating a document on your desktop will start the process and give you the satisfaction that you’re slowly making progress. The brighter the beginning, the higher the likelihood of finishing the job.

Eliminate distractions

Chronic failure to meet deadlines often stems from fear of failure. A person finds a task too difficult and therefore postpones it until the last minute. Therefore, he seems to be subconsciously looking for an excuse for himself: supposedly the work was not done badly, there was not enough time. In case of anger, anxiety increases and productivity decreases. The most famous procrastinator was Victor Hugo, who spent the whole year going to social events and spending his publishing house’s money. When deadlines began to run out, he asked the servants to lock him in a room, leaving him only paper and ink so that nothing could distract him. As a result, he completed Notre Dame Cathedral ahead of schedule.