This report includes nine powerful tips and three actionable steps you can take right away. It also includes a list of suggested readings for those who are looking for even more information.
This article is from a Series
of 52 tips Report on the subject of self improvement. If you want to
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TOP TIPS
While
stress is a normal part of our lives, we have recently become more aware of its
negative effects. Long story short, it isn't great. We should all strive to
reduce stress where we can. One unique form of stress is deadline stress. This
is the stress you feel when you are worried about deadlines that are hanging
over your head. The Germans even have a word for this: Torschlusspanik. This
word roughly translates to "fear of time running out." Does that
sound like something you deal with? If so, consider using these nine tips to
help overcome deadline stress.
1. Set More Realistic
Deadlines
People
tend to be overly optimistic when they initially set deadlines. While this is a
hard habit to break, you need to get more realistic. Setting deadlines that
aren't reasonable is only going to add to your stress. Make sure you set
realistic deadlines that you can meet.
2. Make a Plan
Do
you know how you are going to meet your deadline? Do you have a plan? If not,
do this as soon as possible. Taking the time to outline a rough plan will
likely reduce a lot of the deadline stress you are feeling.
3. Tidy Up Your Workspace
A
cluttered workspace leads to a cluttered mind. Even if you feel stressed for
time, it's important to take some time to tidy up your work area. A tidy work
area means you have fewer distractions and will find it easier to focus on your
most important deadlines.
4. Focus on Things You Can
Control
You
can't control every circumstance in your life. When you are facing a tough
deadline, focus on the things you can control. Maybe your boss set the deadline
so you can't control that, but you can control how you spend the time you have.
5. Break Down Intimidating
Tasks
One
of the best ways to deal with deadline stress is to break your intimidating
tasks down into smaller action items. Instead of worrying about a huge task due
in X amount of days, you can focus on smaller steps that you can do right away.
The more of these steps you tackle, the closer you will be to your goal.
6. Prioritize What's Most
Important
You
should always be spending the majority of your time on your most important
tasks. If you need help figuring out what you should be working on next,
consider both urgency and importance. Important tasks move you towards your
goals the most, and urgent tasks have the tightest deadlines. Find the sweet
spot between those two tasks to figure out what deserves priority.
7. Focus on Your Inner Peace
Deadline
stress is like all other types of stress in that you have to find ways to lower
it. Focusing on your self-care and inner peace is the best way to do that.
Consider taking up a meditation routine. Strive to be more mindful in your
everyday life. Find hobbies and routines that naturally reduce your stress.
8. Let Go of Perfection
Perfection
is the biggest enemy of "done." If you are already stressed about
meeting a deadline, it doesn't make sense to add the stress of perfection. The
reality is, perfect doesn't exist. If you keep nitpicking every little detail,
you are only going to miss more deadlines. Don't invite the stress of
perfection into your life.
9. Take a Break
If
you are heads-down, working your tail off to meet a deadline, taking a break
might be the last thing on your mind. This can be a dangerous mindset. Taking a
break is a great way to re-energize and refocus to always give maximum effort.
It is also a chance to step back from the details and take an overall look at
your progress.
FAST-ACTION STEPS
a) Look
at your schedule or calendar and take stock of your current deadlines. If you
have projects or tasks without a deadline, give them one.
b) Examine
all of your deadlines. Are there any deadlines you can move? Is there a
deadline you were too aggressive on? Tweak your deadlines where necessary and
possible.
c) Do
any of the deadlines worry you? If you can't change a deadline that worries
you, create a plan of attack to reach it. Figure out a step you can take
towards it right now, and do it!
FURTHER
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