Deadline: definition and rules of application

In certain situations, time heals, in others it cripples. For example, negative consequences occur when the deadline is violated. What is it and how to apply it correctly, this article will tell.

Term Deadline came to us from America. Its origin seems rather gloomy. Literally, this means a dead line. And the concept originally meant exactly that in the literal sense.

Dead - dead, line - line or border. I went to the deadline - you will be shot. It was during the Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. Then the passions in the New World calmed down, but the word remained and became a synonym for our hands.

Itishniks were the first to introduce it to their slang. Deadline in the language of programmers - strictly allotted time to complete the work. In simple words, this is the deadline for the assignment to the client or superiors. Then the concept of “deadline” passed into other areas of activity, and not only in the United States.

Situations when the deadlines are on fire are encountered at every step in a person’s life. From early childhood we are faced with a deadline. A poem about Santa Claus needs to be learned strictly for the New Year's matinee, a song about mom - by March 8th. As we grow older, the deadline becomes more stringent.

Already at school, non-observance of the deadline threatens much more serious problems than the suspension from speaking at a matinee in kindergarten.

Then the deadline goes with us to a secondary or higher educational institution. A student is given a certain period of time to write a term paper or thesis. Of course, some leave everything to the last. But non-compliance with the student deadline threatens with expulsion from the institute. And this is not even a deuce in a math class in grade 5.

Having received the diploma, we go to work. And again we take with ourselves the need to comply with the deadline.

Even creative people have to work within the deadline. The performance in the theater must be delivered by a certain date. What can we say about large corporations. The accounting report cannot be delayed, otherwise, a fine, problems with the audit, unpleasant consequences. The completion of a new construction project also always has a certain date, the transfer of which threatens not only the loss of the company's reputation, but also financial losses.

All the same IT specialists must develop a new program by a certain day, otherwise competitors will overtake them, as a result - deprivation of premium, or even dismissal.

An athlete who has missed the deadlines for doping tests will be at least disqualified for a long time, and maybe even finish his career. An artist who undertakes the execution of a private order is required to complete it by the date indicated in the contract, otherwise the painting will remain in his collection.

Even modern writers can rarely afford the lingering "agony of creativity." Strict contracts with publishers do not give them the opportunity to relax. The film crew must be managed on time. Otherwise - additional costs for the rental of premises, royalties to actors, salaries to technical personnel. The doctor cannot postpone the operation to remove appendicitis, otherwise, a deadline in the worst sense of this English term awaits his patient.

But even if you are a simple housewife, there will certainly be a deadline in your life. Lunch must be cooked by a certain date, otherwise the children and husband will remain hungry. The child needs to be picked up from the kindergarten at a certain time, and even if your manicurist is late, it’s does not give the right to violate the term.

Mother-in-law needs to be congratulated on her birthday strictly on her birthday. Violation threatens scandal and resentment. We even make some purchases in the allotted time. It is the deadline method that is used in advertising campaigns when we are offered to buy goods at a discount at a certain time. The slogan "the validity of the action is limited" is nothing more than the use of the principle of deadline. No matter where you look, the deadline is everywhere.

In order for the deadline to be useful, rather than a blow to the nervous system, you need to follow certain requirements. Delaying the task to the extreme point is wrong.

And if in the case of students this is still permissible, they have much more strength and energy than the working person, the more burdened by the family, then it is unacceptable with children or middle-aged people. Therefore, when determining the finish line, use the following rules.

• It will be urgent for sure. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Even if you understand that the work can be completed in two weeks, and not in a month, as the deadline requires, do not postpone it.

Unplanned difficulties or things can always happen. The child fell ill, her mother asked me to take her to the country, and all this usually happens "inappropriately." Better sooner than later, so get to work as soon as you receive it. So you will at least have time for domestic needs. As a maximum, you can start a new project ahead of schedule.

• Unique performer. Each of us has our own temperament, everyone has their own work style. Therefore, one can cope with a specific task in a week, the other in three days. One manicurist does his work in 30 minutes, the other releases the client only after an hour and a half.

And the matter is not only in quality, but also in the methods that this or that specialist applies. Do not run ahead of the engine. Do not overstate the bar. If you understand that the time allotted to you is too short, either immediately refuse the order, or stipulate other terms.

• I see the goal. Sometimes it’s hard for us to start a large-scale project. We just don’t know which way to start. Put everything on the shelves. Identify the main and secondary. Make a plan. And then it will be much easier to find the best way to achieve the goal than if you do the job “swoop”.
• And the hour struck. Sometimes it seems that meeting deadlines is not so important. Have not sewn a dress for the New Year - finish by the birthday. Not cleaned this weekend - do it next. Meanwhile, affairs are only increasing. They grow like a snowball. So don’t think about seconds down. Do not bring the matter to time trouble.
• Can't get yourself to get started? Remember the customer. Not only will you risk spoiling your relationship with him and tarnishing your reputation, so it will be difficult for him. For example, he expects to receive a portrait from you (a bouquet, an exclusive piece of jewelry) for his wife to her birthday. Failure to meet the deadline threatens problems not only for you, but also for his personal life.
• No matter how much rope you twist, the end will still be. Define specific deadlines. Even if the customer does not insist and says that he is ready to wait a whole year. Set the end date yourself. Sound it to the client and partners. Otherwise, there is a likelihood that the “pleasure” will really stretch for a year.
• Divide and rule. Keep a schedule of work in writing (printed) always at hand, especially if you work on several projects at the same time. Do not be afraid to delegate part of the work to colleagues (subordinates).
• Time. Time zones often stifle business. When receiving an order from Vladivostok in Kaliningrad, do not forget to take into account the time difference or discuss what hours to focus on with the customer.
• Understand, but verify. If it even seems that you have taken into account all the wishes of the customer, do not hesitate to clarify all the details. Otherwise, there may not be enough time for revision.
• The customer is always right. In order not to have to make adjustments to the work a month after its delivery, set a deadline for your customer. Specify the deadline for accepting claims after the completion of work. Otherwise, when a month later it comes to a friend that there should have been mother-of-pearl buttons on the dressing gown, you will have to be distracted by a remake from another project, the strict framework of which also cannot be violated.
• From general to specific. If you have undertaken a large-scale project, divide it into several parts and for each determine your deadline.This will help to clearly understand what needs to be done on a particular day.
• Do not be afraid to trifle. Write down every small detail of your project and as you complete it, cross out from the list those tasks that have already been completed. Firstly, there will always be a clear plan before you, and secondly, every day the goal will be more and more tangible.
• Case time. Keep track of the calendar and clock. Sometimes time runs unnoticed, it is impossible to turn it back. At least for now, the time machine only works in films and books.
• Happy hours. Determine the time that is most convenient for the job. If you work at home, then perhaps this will be the gap between the moment when the children left for school and the time when it is time to start preparing dinner. Use the selected time clearly for its intended purpose - in our case, to perform work on the deadline.
• You can use the trick known in time management - the tomato method. For a certain time, you will be focused on solving only one problem. The essence of the method is simple. Take a kitchen timer, start it for 25 minutes, and until a signal sounds about the end of time, you only do some specific work. Learn English, for example. The main condition - all this time should not distract anything. Neither phone calls, nor the sound of a boiling kettle, nor a machine that finished washing.
• ​​​​​​Do not embrace the immensity. Even if during the execution of the work you received a very advantageous offer, before agreeing to it, weigh the pros and cons. If you try to catch two birds with one stone, the probability of missing both is great. Therefore, if there is even the slightest risk of not completing the first task, do not take on the second.

It might seem that the deadline is most relevant for businessmen. However, this is not the case. First of all, the deadline disciplines. Secondly he helps to establish self-control. You will not endlessly look for reasons to postpone the task.

You will have more free time. What was previously spent on all nonsense will go into action. Instead of 5 cups of coffee per day, you will start drinking one. And this is good for health.

Instead of one high-quality completed project, you will be able to take 2 or even 3 at the same time. And this is not only an increase in self-esteem, but also an increase in salary.

There are people who are late pathologically. They do not have time anywhere and never - to school, work, plane or train, for birthdays and even the New Year, and at the same time do not experience the slightest torment of conscience. But such an exception rather than a rule. For the most part, violation of the deadline leads to problems of both an internal and social nature.

• A loser will never be able to feel successful. He loses faith in his own strengths, becomes frustrated, and eventually brings himself to chronic and prolonged stress.
• Unfulfilled work on time inevitably leads to an unpleasant conversation with the customer, business partner or manager. As a result, the same stress.
• The time that was spent on work that was not delivered on time cannot be returned. As a result of the failure of the deadlines, all the work is often in vain. You were beaten by a competitor or an order made by you after the agreed deadlines is no longer relevant. Well, who needs your exclusively decorated Christmas tree on January 10? You have lost strength, but at best you got nothing, at worst - again stress.
• In addition to the loss of time and effort, disorganization leads to loss of profit. If your boss is a darling, he simply will not give you a bonus, and if not, which is most likely, he will reduce or completely deprive him of his salary.
• With a systematic violation of the deadline, a person runs the risk of losing his job altogether. At first, at least as many significant projects will cease to trust him, then they will begin to completely ignore him. Rumors of his incapacity go far beyond the company. And after the dismissal, which in this case is almost inevitable, if only the owner of the company is not your loving grandfather, it will be difficult for you to find a new job. And as a result of what? That's right - stress or even depression.

Anyone is able to follow the deadline rules. Any violation is the result of improper work and rest. So that not a single day is wasted, you do not need to have supernatural abilities. You just need to clean up your head and workplace. So, let's begin.

• We draw up a work plan for the day. It is advisable to do this the night before. If you are a “early bird” and you get up neither light nor dawn, full of strength and energy, assign all important and complex tasks to the first half of the day. After lunch, take on less burdensome and demanding tasks. If you are an “owl” and your brain “wakes up” closer to noon, do the light part of the work in the morning, after lunch, take on the most expensive tasks on the mental plane.

But in either case, assign most of the load to the first half of the week, while you have a stronger concentration of attention and a higher level of performance. With proper planning, you can always make yourself a “short day” on Friday.

• Leave yourself time just in case. If you need to complete the work in a week, reduce your own deadline to 5-6 days. So you will have time to correct defects, improve the created project. If neither is needed, you will have free time at your disposal.
• Promise to do the work on time not only to yourself and the customer (manager), but also to colleagues, and even household members. Spoken dates aloud encourage you to do work more dynamically.

• Put a “reminder” on your phone. The sound of notifications of the deadline will also stimulate its early completion.
• But first, put things in order on the desktop, remove from it everything that is unnecessary and distracting from work. Create comfortable conditions for yourself.

Do not take on an excessive burden. Take into work only what you are ready to do without losing health. And, of course, do not deny yourself a vacation. You can drive yourself very quickly, it will take much longer to recover. Be in the fresh air more often. Go in for sports. All this will give acceleration and stimulus to your brain activity. Sleep at least 8 hours at night. Take some breaks for yourself during the day.

As you can see, everything is not as complicated as everything ingenious. And remember - the word “deadline” had a sad connotation more than a century and a half ago. Now it is a life buoy for any modern person who wants to achieve success in this life both at work and at home.