Does A Deadline Motivate or Demotivate You?

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Gratitude to Foxywriter for this wonderful image

Does a deadline excite you or almost make you cry?

Today is Day 7 of my 21 Days of Motivation and I have to set myself 2 deadlines to complete today. The focus for today is to see deadlines as a support system for strategizing.

Denise Hart aka Motivational Mama says:

Deadlines are boundaries that help up to adjust and monitor our motivation.

I know deadlines drive me to complete tasks and goals that otherwise would not get done. I often thrive under the pressure of a deadline. It’s how I get artworks into exhibitions, books published and currently getting a daily article on this blog.

The flip side of meeting deadlines usually means something else gets put aside. Sometimes put in a box, sometimes get lost under a pile of to do’s in the intray or sometimes just gets discarded.

For me, this means in meeting deadlines I need better strategies with what’s been put aside to meet the deadline.

I love deadlines

I like the

whooshing sound

they make

as they fly by.

-Douglas Adams

Do you love deadlines?

Are they and upper or a downer for you?

Suzie

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5 Comments

Denise on January 17, 2009 at

I thrive on deadlines. I don’t know if its from the photo deadlines I had, and usually didn’t meet or the newspaper deadline which I did meet, but I do my best work when I have a deadline.

Bit I do need to get organized a bit better, all nighters are not fun anymore!

Nice article, Denise

Ernie Small on January 17, 2009 at

ah yes; deadlines. always a double-edged sword for me, a sort “that which feeds me destroys me”-kind of scene.
on the one hand, when it comes to productivity itself, deadlines always help because i don’t have to make as many decisions. however, if i end with too many imposing deadlines in my life (a situation which i always call “the stack”) then my ability to “stop and smell the roses” disappears and i feel like my life is definitely lacking something…..

Melanie on January 23, 2009 at

I have to say, I function much better with deadlines in my life. I do better with structure – even small daily deadlines. Times to get up, times to exercise, times scheduled for things that need to get done. It keeps me on track.

Thanks for this!

*melanie

Roger on January 27, 2009 at

Without deadlines I don’t think I could accomplish anything. If a project is likely to take three days to complete, I always try to start it at least the day before its due. I started early on one of my monthly columns due tomorrow. I began writing today before it was dark. 🙂

Great Quote!

Roger

Rogers last blog post..Nature’s Wonder

Leah on May 15, 2009 at

Deadlines are a motivator if the deadline is not a month away because the longer the deadline, the better chance I have to put things off and procrastinate.lol
I have a better chance of getting something done if the deadline just gives me enough time to focus on and finish that one task. Because the material or ideas are fresh in my head and I am ready to go.

Denise on January 17, 2009 at

I thrive on deadlines. I don’t know if its from the photo deadlines I had, and usually didn’t meet or the newspaper deadline which I did meet, but I do my best work when I have a deadline.

Bit I do need to get organized a bit better, all nighters are not fun anymore!

Nice article, Denise
Ernie Small on January 17, 2009 at

ah yes; deadlines. always a double-edged sword for me, a sort “that which feeds me destroys me”-kind of scene.
on the one hand, when it comes to productivity itself, deadlines always help because i don’t have to make as many decisions. however, if i end with too many imposing deadlines in my life (a situation which i always call “the stack”) then my ability to “stop and smell the roses” disappears and i feel like my life is definitely lacking something…..
Melanie on January 23, 2009 at

I have to say, I function much better with deadlines in my life. I do better with structure – even small daily deadlines. Times to get up, times to exercise, times scheduled for things that need to get done. It keeps me on track.

Thanks for this!

*melanie
Roger on January 27, 2009 at

Without deadlines I don’t think I could accomplish anything. If a project is likely to take three days to complete, I always try to start it at least the day before its due. I started early on one of my monthly columns due tomorrow. I began writing today before it was dark. 🙂

Great Quote!

Roger

Rogers last blog post..Nature’s Wonder
Leah on May 15, 2009 at

Deadlines are a motivator if the deadline is not a month away because the longer the deadline, the better chance I have to put things off and procrastinate.lol
I have a better chance of getting something done if the deadline just gives me enough time to focus on and finish that one task. Because the material or ideas are fresh in my head and I am ready to go.