Deadlines

There is a saying, "if you want something done, give it to a busy person".   I am a "always beat the deadline" person.  I rarely wait till the last minute.  I am also a Plan B person.  My mind just works that way.  The key, I have found, is to take the first step.  Sometimes, I have to talk to someone, sometimes I need to write it down, scratch it all out, start all over, but in the end, once I get it going, I can usually get to where I need it to be and be done before it is due.  What bothers me, is someone setting a deadline with unrealistic expectations as to when it can be completed-- and knowing if that person was being asked to meet the same expectations they would not be able to.
Some great tips to meeting and exceeding expectations that work for me are to (1) write everything down.  In my phone, I use the notes app and at my desk I use a notebook.  (2)  make a list of all the projects and due dates or deadlines (3)  build in a cushion-- you never know what is going to happen in that window of time you set for yourself to work on a project (4)  focus --for me that means turning off the music, pulling in all the supplies I need for the task and eliminating any other distractions if possible (5)  get help when needed (6)  reward yourself knowing you did a good job!
Deadlines can refine your mind or it can make you absolutely crazy and unproductive.  A colleague of mine used to say we worked really hard and got a lot of things accomplished so we when we were off we played hard.  We would give it our very best and the few hours that are left in the day belong to us.  That's where the reward was.
I needed to remind myself today that I thrive when there is a deadline, that I can and I will carve out the time, and I will meet the deadline and exceed expectations.