I used to be a procrastinator, and for some reason, I’m more motivated with a deadline looming over my head. I’ve learned, however, that Murphy’s Law always reminds me that things are more likely to go wrong when you leave things until the last minute.
Now that I’ve learned that leaving things until the last minute is tempting fate to mess with me, I now make better use of my time. Instead of waiting until the last minute, I get things done when I have the time, which means I’m on cruise control as the deadline approaches.
I used to think that I worked well under pressure, and while that may be true, I wouldn’t say I like feeling pressured to get things done. Now that I start the work once it’s assigned, I can focus on the task at hand without feeling the pressure of a deadline creeping up on me.
There was a time when I would get an assignment due in a week, and I wouldn’t start it until mid-week. If I needed clarity on something, I would have to send an email, and then I’m at the mercy of the recipient. What do I do if I don’t get an answer until the day before the deadline? I’ll admit that this has happened to me, and since I didn’t get the response I needed, I did the assignment based on my assumptions. **SPOILER ALERT** I had to redo the job because I received my reply after submitting it, and I was way off track. 😕
I didn’t need to experience that situation twice, so I’ve learned to review the assignments as soon as I get them and ask for any clarity necessary ASAP. When I work like that, everything flows with a lot more ease. At the end of the day, I know that there are going to be times when a lot is being asked of me and making the best use of my time is the best way to get everything done If you feel like you could be using your time better, it may be time to review how you’re using your time. I have some tools that can help you manage your time better. Contact me if you’d like to know more! ♥