Self-Imposed Deadlines.

It never ceases to amaze me how time crunch and pressure spurs one into action.

We are wired to only do things when absolutely necessary and it’s only through self-imposed deadlines that we are thrust into completing things.

The result is people who can thrust themselves into predicaments and perform well, thrive.

Those that do not perform well, flounder.

The secret though, is that those that flounder can learn how to thrive.

Those that flounder, if they can overcome the ego-wounding that is floundering, can get back up and try again.

The second secret is that deadlines will exist regardless of your desire to avoid them.

So you might as well get used to deadlines and embrace them to become better at using them for your gain.

Otherwise, you will flounder with deadlines that will continue to exist in your life because of your passive, escapist tendencies.

And the inspiration for this post all came from cleaning my home. My wife and I were hosting a friends get-together and we had to clean the home. For months, our home has been tolerable. Clean enough to not drive us insane, messy enough to not be tidy.

Totally not an over-dramatization.

Papers everywhere.

A not so put together front space.

Piles of clothes in the bedroom.

Dirty dishes in the sink.

But in the hours before friends came over, we cleaned it all up.

Why? How?

Time crunch and the expectation to be hospitable and presentable.

We agreed it was beneficial for us to host friends more often because it kept us accountable and clean.

We prioritized cleaning our place over lounging around.

And honestly, it was enjoyable to wake up the next day to a house

But then why? Why is there something that I want to do, that I see the benefits of, that would ultimately be way less work and more easily accomplished if I did more regularly?

Deadlines.

Deadlines let us know what is due, what should be prioritized and what can be deferred.

Deadlines cause us to leap into action.

Deadlines cause us to not be overcome with analysis paralysis.

The only thing deadlines do not help with is determining busyness with productivity. That is the one extra cognitive piece you need to control.

Is TASK A, which is due today, more important than TASK B? Remember the Eisenhower Matrix?

Urgent and Not important. Delegate that shit.

That’s the one area of weakness or potential folly.

But honestly, I think there’s an unnecessary aversion or negative connotation to deadlines. Same as work. Sure, I get the capitalist society, working for the man, and the overall destructive nature of working to live. But deadlines can be such a positive in people’s lives if they aren’t fearful of the word, not as anxious about the concept, and see the positive opportunity that a deadline can have on their goals.

Now obviously I’m speaking in broad-sweeping terms. But my point being that deadlines will always exist. They are a necessity in any person’s life. So we might as well learn to see them in a positive and productive life.

Here are some of the personal deadlines I make for myself.

• Plan social events regularly at home so you HAVE to clean.

• Schedule your week fairly busily so you have to be productive during your in-between hours. Otherwise, you can’t get your normal routine right. We’re talking buying groceries, working out, sleeping early. All because your week is otherwise busy with friends, hobbies, events.

• Tell your friends your plans. I’m going to have X done by next week. I’m going to finish Y in a month. If you’ve got a friend who will ask you about it or is interested in seeing the results, that’s who you want to share the information with.