While not all of us have to contend with deadlines in our home businesses, many of us do. Managing to stay organized and focused, and prioritize tasks when faced with a tight or unexpected deadline can take some getting used to. There are ways to keep on track, however, and learn to stay focused when an impending deadline looms.
Deadlines have been a way of life for me for most of my work career. I imagine that I cut my teeth on deadlines by writing for my high school newspaper although I admit that I have gotten better with staying focused and managing the inevitable stress as I have gotten older. It gets tough when deadlines suddenly change or you end up faced with an “emergency” but it is still possible to stay cool and coordinate your time and efforts.
The first step is to prioritize. Figure out what absolutely has to get done and when. The next step is to clear your schedule of all distractions and tasks or issues that can be put aside. Chances are, there are projects that you can put on the back burner while you devote your time to the deadline project. Additionally, make a quick list and time frame of what needs to be done. I try to break things down by days, but if it is a big project and a very tight schedule, you may have to break things down by hours: set a drop-dead time for the important elements of the project to keep you moving forward. The more you can get done early, the more time you have to adjust to changes and problems as they come up.
As for staying focused, this can be the most challenging part. It is hard to keep plugging away at a work project with all of the distractions that pop up. I keep one eye on my task list and check things off as I go (or cross them off with great drama which really makes me feel like I am moving along.) Consider offering yourself awards and incentives to keep going: “If I work for 8 hours on this today, I’ll take myself out for pie when I’m done.” Or “Once I meet this deadline, I’m going to go out for dinner and a movie.” Those little incentives can go a long way when it comes to self motivation.