Dead to Deadlines

Procrastination and perfection seem to move hand in hand. However perfection does not automatically imply that one procrastinates. Situations arise that require a deadline for a valid reason and that reason may require great sacrifice. Unfulfilled deadlines may bring about unsatisfactory results. While procrastination (putting off a task for no valid reason) can become an undesirable trait in an individual who relies on it to avoid perceived hard work, legitimate reasons exist for certain projects to take longer than the desired amount of time. 
When public safety or protection of personal property becomes a factor in the situation, deadlines sometimes need adjustment. For example, a construction project may use materials that require a certain amount of time to reach full strength. Abbreviating the cure time in order to meet a deadline can result in a catastrophic failure resulting in death, serious injury, or destruction of property. Another circumstance where deadlines could cause problems involve rushing to get somewhere by a certain time and breaking the law to get there, therefore risking the safety of fellow drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the road. Additionally, rushing to meet a deadline may preclude one from gathering all the facts and there by endangering the final premise of a report or essay. 

Of course, not all responsibilities in a person’s life allow the setting aside of deadlines. Situations occur that require a final result in a timely manner. School work may require punctual completion for the satisfaction of a good grade. Preparation for an exam or final test can necessitate long hours of study in order to do well on that specific date. Getting a desirable job or contract may demand punctuality in the completion and submission of a report or application. Often times a work environment compels a person to submit reports or to meet deadlines due to the nature of the work or others who rely on its timely presentation. 

Over-thinking a project and making it more complicated than it calls for can cause worry and unwanted pressure resulting in procrastination. Focusing on every little detail may additionally cause unwanted stress and a feeling of unwillingness to even commence the project. One must also prioritize their schedule to fit their commitments in an orderly fashion. Randomly tackling whatever seems most pressing at the time wastes effort to complete a task. Often times what seems the most pressing in retrospect actually interferes with suitable completion of an assignment. 

To conclude, while reasons exist for delay, more often than not the better choice remains to complete one’s work as well as possible in the time frame allotted. As a doctor often only has limited time to save the life of a patient other circumstances exist that require our best effort by a specific time. Perhaps the best effort a person can make for the long term would include determining their ability to handle the pressures of deadlines when choosing a career or committing to a project. One cannot pick and choose when they will face a time limit, however knowing one’s ability to cope with them will go a long way towards achieving satisfaction in one’s life. In short, situations exist that require deadlines and all efforts should focus toward that end.