ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2007 > August > 29 > Entry
Keeping up with deadlines
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don’t you hate arbitrary deadlines that fly in like torpedoes and ruin your plans for the day? Have you ever been handed a project on a Friday with the deadline listed as Monday morning? Do you ever wonder just how long that project or “must-have” information has been sitting on someone else’s desk?
A study in Sweden in 2004 found that the pressure of meeting an unexpected or intense deadline increased the risk of suffering a heart attack the following day sixfold. The incidence of heart attack was also highest on Monday mornings. So beware of deadlines on Mondays - maybe you should just stay home.
No, seriously, deadlines can evoke serious physical symptoms related to extreme stress that can - in the short-term or the long-term - create a health condition that is life threatening. Imagine that, I know I’ve felt tense and angry at being given an unreasonable deadline but now I know I’d better get that anger under control or find a way to blow off some steam. Procrastination can accelerate the stress level when you realize it’s crunch time.
When faced with deadlines, what can make the difference in your stress levels? First, talk with your boss, chances there is some flexibility in the deadline. Rational conversation about what needs to be done and what is realistic may make a difference. Secondly, if there is no talking to your boss, and you’re feeling paralyzed, you can overcome the inertia by just taking a first step, then another. Sometimes developing a plan can help identify the logical approach for completing the project. Another strategy is to delegate some of the others to a secretary, administrative assistant or other team member. Dividing the work among other parties that should reasonably help can bring the project along and in on time.
A key point is to avoid procrastination. Everyone is busy and if your job is like mine, interruptions prevent focused work for extended periods of time. Setting a schedule and finding small blocks of time to complete stepwise tasks can help. At the end of the project, when the deadline is met, reward yourself - take an afternoon off or get a massage, life’s too short not to give yourself a pat on the back.
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