Everyone understands that competent planning and uniform execution of tasks is the most optimal option, which helps to finish work calmly and on time. However, what if there is very little time left before the deadline, and the amount of work is objectively too large? Collected in one article surprisingly simple and effective advice.

Assess your strength

If you understand that missing the deadline is inevitable, even with your maximum productivity, tell about it in advance. This way you are more likely to not let the client down and reduce the negative consequences for sure.

No Panic

And to understand that there is only one way out of the situation: to work as hard as possible. The stress of approaching the deadline motivates and prevents procrastination, but if your panic interferes with your work, then you need to get rid of it. Make fear work for you.

Things to Avoid:

Physical exhaustion

Most often, approaching deadlines is associated with lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and a complete lack of sports. However, if you need to work at an accelerated pace for more than two days, then this approach will only worsen your results.

• Lack of sleep reduces productivity.

• Sport improves brain function.

• Poor nutrition affects performance.

Fear of asking for help

Before the deadline, all means are good, especially the ability to delegate something. Ask for help, promising in return something of equal value in the future, and you may not be denied support. Remember that you are in distress and the consequences of missing a deadline are far more dire than a refusal to ask for help.

WOW: some people are more deadline-oriented than others

Experienced managers know that different people respond to different incentives. In this case, much is determined by the specifics of the profession. If the reporter’s work is connected with the daily news, then he will strictly adhere to the deadlines. Moreover, he does not have to be strongly motivated – he already knows what and when to do. Others, on the contrary, require additional control. This does not mean that they are bad workers, they are just different people, warns Richard Boyatzis. After all, competent management is built primarily on getting to know the people with whom you work, and deadlines are used as one of the tools for timely completion of work.

White lie

Many experts advise setting “personal deadlines” that are several days ahead of the date someone else sets for you. This is a great way to set aside a “slack” if circumstances are such that the project will take longer than you expected. Timing should be seen as an internal, not an external motivator. Why is it important? Because psychologically, we stop relying on other people to set time boundaries. As a result, we begin to do what we are obliged to do at the right time for us. Also, external motivators can always be justified (“this deadline is not that important”, “no one will notice a two-day delay”). But intrinsic motivators don’t have qualifiers – we set them ourselves, and we decided that we would do it, regardless of the time frame other people set for us.