Finding Time For Tomorrow's Deadline: 5 Last-Minute Solutions For Procrastinators
Finding time is a lifesaver when you are running out of it – quickly! You know that project you found out about two weeks ago but have not worked on yet (the one you kept saying that you would get to tomorrow)? Suddenly that deadline is tomorrow!
5 Things Not to Do:
1. DO NOT leave town, change your identity, or purchase a disguise.
2. DO NOT keep procrastinating.
3. DO NOT panic.
4. DO NOT berate yourself.
5. DO NOT throw in the towel.
Details may vary from one time to the next, but the basic story remains the same. You have been putting something off, or letting other priorities get in the way of completing a task. That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach may make you want to disappear, but showing up is the best antidote.
To successfully complete your task, set new patterns in place. Commit to making this project a success, and use tips below as building blocks for better time choices from here on.
5 Tips to Help You Get the Job Done.
1. DO create a boundary.
2. DO get your tools together.
3. DO define your task.
4. DO get started.
5. DO keep in mind that DONE is better than perfect!
Create a boundary. Let others know you need undisturbed time until your project is completed. Enlist in their support, if needed. Let the answering machine take your messages. Direct your full attention and energy to the task at hand.
Assemble your tools. What do you need to complete your task? A computer? Papers from work? Coffee? Gather nearby whatever will help you to get the job done.
Define your task. Envision your end point, and brainstorm what you need to reach it. What is the most direct route? Let simplicity be your guide. If you get caught up in the details, it's time to translate thought into action.
Get started. This is the top priority. Once you get started, keep going. Do not let doubts or interruptions stop you. You may hit bumps, but keep moving. Give yourself small breaks if you need to, but set a time frame for them and return to your task quickly.
Finish. Remember, your goal is not perfection, it's to get to the end of this task on schedule. Once you have finished, if you have time, you can go back and polish your work. If it helps, think of your finished product as a starting point rather than an endpoint!
The way you spend your time is the way you live your life
Once you’ve gotten out of that corner you backed yourself into, congratulate yourself! You have learned first-hand how boundaries, focus and mobilizing yourself enables you to meet your deadline. This is just one example of the benefits you will enjoy if you regularly study your time choices to enhance your effectiveness. Become your own hero. Rescue yourself from a life of urgency and avoidance! With practice, you will experience increasing success at finding time.
5 Things Not to Do:
1. DO NOT leave town, change your identity, or purchase a disguise.
2. DO NOT keep procrastinating.
3. DO NOT panic.
4. DO NOT berate yourself.
5. DO NOT throw in the towel.
Details may vary from one time to the next, but the basic story remains the same. You have been putting something off, or letting other priorities get in the way of completing a task. That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach may make you want to disappear, but showing up is the best antidote.
To successfully complete your task, set new patterns in place. Commit to making this project a success, and use tips below as building blocks for better time choices from here on.
5 Tips to Help You Get the Job Done.
1. DO create a boundary.
2. DO get your tools together.
3. DO define your task.
4. DO get started.
5. DO keep in mind that DONE is better than perfect!
Create a boundary. Let others know you need undisturbed time until your project is completed. Enlist in their support, if needed. Let the answering machine take your messages. Direct your full attention and energy to the task at hand.
Assemble your tools. What do you need to complete your task? A computer? Papers from work? Coffee? Gather nearby whatever will help you to get the job done.
Define your task. Envision your end point, and brainstorm what you need to reach it. What is the most direct route? Let simplicity be your guide. If you get caught up in the details, it's time to translate thought into action.
Get started. This is the top priority. Once you get started, keep going. Do not let doubts or interruptions stop you. You may hit bumps, but keep moving. Give yourself small breaks if you need to, but set a time frame for them and return to your task quickly.
Finish. Remember, your goal is not perfection, it's to get to the end of this task on schedule. Once you have finished, if you have time, you can go back and polish your work. If it helps, think of your finished product as a starting point rather than an endpoint!
The way you spend your time is the way you live your life
Once you’ve gotten out of that corner you backed yourself into, congratulate yourself! You have learned first-hand how boundaries, focus and mobilizing yourself enables you to meet your deadline. This is just one example of the benefits you will enjoy if you regularly study your time choices to enhance your effectiveness. Become your own hero. Rescue yourself from a life of urgency and avoidance! With practice, you will experience increasing success at finding time.