The art of creating self-imposed deadlines is crucial not only for going above and beyond meeting requirements but also for making our progress in achieving both small and big goals much smoother. Love them or hate them, they are incredibly motivational deadlines! However, there are two things we should try to avoid when dealing with deadlines: perfectionism and leaving things to the last minute. Both tend to increase stress rather than reduce it.
Self-scheduling techniques can be applied even when a project, goal, or meeting doesn’t have actual deadlines. It helps us organize how we tackle every task we need to complete or goal we want to accomplish. These self-imposed deadlines should be strategically based on each task’s priority level. As Neil A. Lewis Jr. said, “It must energize and motivate current action. To create this sense of imminence, we manipulated the time metric — the units (e.g., days, years) in which time is considered.”
Aiming to accomplish a big win months from now is excellent; however, we should establish small milestones and small successes! Setting deadlines in days rather than weeks or months subconsciously spurs a greater sense of urgency and priority. Whether we are writing an article, working on a project, meeting a client, planning a marketing campaign, implementing a significant change, or starting a new business, there are techniques and tools we can use to avoid drowning in anxiety, as prolonged deadlines can have a negative impact on our health. As Psychreg states, “Internally imposed deadlines reduce procrastination. It may be much better to set your own deadlines rather than have them set for you.”
Techniques
Three techniques I’ve been using daily for the last five years have been pivotal in achieving many small and significant milestones. They’ve also helped me break into Data Science and the world of Digital Marketing.
1. Focus and Boost Productivity!
Focusing on one task daily to achieve high-quality results is essential. Remember, if you try to do everything simultaneously, you’ll end up doing nothing! The self-imposed deadline is a crucial metric that determines whether your actions lead to success or failure. Prioritize what is most important, work for 3–4 hours daily, and then celebrate your mini-milestone to stay motivated.
2. Establish Short-Term Milestones and Celebrate!
A great technique to tackle big tasks or projects is to break them down into smaller, bite-sized milestones. This makes tasks feel much more feasible and helps get started. Once you achieve any milestone, treat or reward yourself! Set deadlines and use rewards and consequences as motivation. For example, as part of my professional development plan, I set a goal to read, learn, and apply the principles of Design Sprint within two weeks by taking a Design Sprint Masterclass with AJ&Smart to become a facilitator. Once I completed the program and received the certificate, I rewarded myself by watching The Lord of the Rings Trilogy again! And I did.
3. Rise Early and Punch Today in the Face!
Whether you are a morning person or not, accomplishing as many tasks as possible in the morning boosts your productivity and encourages you to achieve short-term milestones. Planning ahead is vital! Knowing what you’ll do the next morning will help you achieve your daily goals early, allowing you to enjoy the rest of the day. However, only go beyond your daily tasks if you’re still within the 3-4 hour range or if you want to save time for the next day. Stick to your daily deadlines to stay focused and keep motivating yourself.
What motivations, tools, tips, and rewards do you use to meet your self-imposed deadlines?
