A deadline can be a remarkable tool for productivity. When the consequences are real, and the work must be done, the deadline is a stressful but effective motivator. (There are some upsides to stress.) Even the most clever procrastinator can be made to respect the looming presence of a red letter day on the calendar.
As powerful as a deadline can be, it’s not always the right tool for the job. When we’ve successfully submitted to them in the past, it can be tempting to apply the old “do or die” to everything we want to accomplish. But there are times where an arbitrary deadline can actually foul a process, limit ideas, and prevent us from surprising results.
Deadlines are fantastic for tasks with known outcomes and relatively clear paths to completion. Even if those paths are occasionally diverted by obstacles and unforeseen challenges, the deadline is perfect when we know what we have to achieve. Tasks and schedules go well together.
But when it comes to creative processes without clear outcomes, a deadline is less meaningful. The value is not in the finishing of a thing by a certain date, but the iterative process of curiosity, attention, and effort. “Build a new business” or “write a book” can both fit into this category, especially when the specific qualities of the final product is hazy at best.
Instead of using a deadline, there is a more effective tool for ensuring that you’re putting in the time and effort required to develop these process-oriented projects: The time log. Using a spreadsheet, track the amount of dedicated time you spend working on the project. By noting the date, start time, and end time, you can keep a running total of your collective effort.
The time log is effective in multiple ways. First, it holds you accountable. By keeping a simple record, you can visualize how much time you’re really spending in pursuit of a project. Second, it can give you the strength to keep going when your motivation lulls. The simple act of “not breaking the chain” of days you’ve spent working on the project is enough to get you in the chair again. Third, it can help you adjust your expectations by understanding how much time it’s taken you to get as far as you’ve gotten. You may be surprised how much or how little you get done. Finally, the log of hours can instill in you a sense of discipline and pride in that discipline. It’s evidence of your great pursuit.
Learn to recognize when you need time and when you need the deadline.
