Meeting deadlines can be the most challenging task in the workplace. Though there are a few overachievers in every office who thrive on them, most of us mortals are terrified of deadlines. They cause us stress and anxiety. With this post, we will learn how to meet your deadlines in 5 easy steps.
If you constantly have to face them, they can easily become the bane of your existence. If the anxiety related to the deadline wasn’t enough, the knowledge that our supervisor is keeping an eye on our progress only makes things worse.
Most people aren’t good under pressure, and their productivity will be badly hampered due to the stress caused by deadlines.
Making deadlines is not only essential to stay on top of your work, but it also builds your reputation in the workplace. When you will constantly deliver your work on time, your supervisor will notice and realize that you are someone who can be counted on.
His approval will be very helpful when the time for appraisal comes around. Inversely, if you constantly fail to submit your work within the deadline, your reputation will take a hit, and your job could end up in jeopardy.
To be a consummate professional, you must be able to complete your work within the deadline. Here are some strategies that will help you finish your work in time:
Make an Assessment.
Sometimes deadlines are unattainable from the very beginning. If you receive an assignment with an unrealistic deadline, speak up immediately. After all, it will be you who will have to work overtime in a desperate attempt to complete it. And if you fail to meet the deadline, it will be you and only you who will be blamed. So, this is one of the best way to learn on how to meet your deadlines during work.
Therefore, it is best to speak up when the assignment is being handed to you. Once you accept it, anything you say later will seem like an excuse.
So, whenever you receive some work with a deadline, quickly make an assessment of whether you will be able to do it in time or not. If you have too much on your plate, you can explain your situation to your boss, and he can give the work to somebody else.
Make Mini Deadlines.
If you’re looking to find out how to meet your deadlines during work; simply break down the project into smaller parts with mini-deadlines of their own. This will help you work in an organized fashion, but the smaller deadlines will make sure that you are working with the right speed.
Breaking down the task into smaller portions will also help alleviate stress and anxiety as smaller tasks will seem more doable. Once you are not thinking of the project as a whole, you will feel less stressed and will actually be able to focus on the work at hand. This will help you finish in time, and this is also one of the most crucial part while learning how to meet your deadlines during work.
Block Your Time.
Keep specific hours in a day just for working on the project with the deadline. Keep all your other tasks aside and give this task full priority. In the hours that you have set apart for the work, don’t allow yourself any distraction.
Keep your phone on silent. Turn off your Wi-Fi if your work doesn’t require the use of the internet. In the hours set aside for work, you should not be distracted for even a moment. Work on your concentration and focus so that you are able to make use of all the valuable time that you have if you really want to understand the basics of how to meet your deadlines.
If you block certain hours of the day and only work on the project during these periods, you will undoubtedly be able to meet the deadline.
This step requires a lot of discipline and self-control. It might be not easy at first, but you will get used to it over time.
Keep Rewarding Yourself.
It is possible to get lost in work. Especially if you are working under a deadline, but just because you have a lot of work to do, doesn’t mean you will forget to take care of yourself.
Whenever you reach a milestone in the project, no matter how small it is, make sure to celebrate it. This will keep your spirits up as you plough through the seemingly endless work.
You can reward yourself by eating a bar of chocolate or taking a short walk nearby. You can also order something good for lunch.
Take Care of Distractions.
The most important thing that you need to do is get rid of distractions. Distractions are the main reason most people aren’t able to finish their work within the deadline. These days, the attention span of people is badly affected.
It’s extremely hard to focus on one thing for hours straight. You need to repair your attention span so that you will be able to work efficiently and meet your deadlines.
Are you able to meet your deadlines at work? What measure do you take to do that? Let us know in the comment section below.