3 of 15

Write now Article Tools

Do you procrastinate? If you do, Friday deadlines or any deadline will always be a problem for you. Ways exists to help alleviate this situation. No, it's not eliminate the boss or the client. If you can't afford the therapy to find the cause of your delays, (and probably you would just put that off too) then you need to find a way to get things done earlier. This is especially true of those things that require upfront work before the task can be completed. An example of this would be the research paper that you always completed moments before or after it was due.

Two quick suggestions on this. First, establish preliminary deadlines. Sometimes bosses or instructors will do this by requiring you to submit partial assignments at intervals along the way to the deadline for the project. As soon as you receive the task, sit down and map your strategy for completion with your own intermediate deadlines. Once you've determined these, back everything up one to three days depending on the length of the total job. These will be your deadlines. If you stay even close to on time with these timeframes, you should complete your overall project early. If you miss your own deadline by a day, you will still be ok.

The next suggestion is a cousin to the first. On items that are relatively short, intermediate deadlines may not work. In that case, set your final deadline up as far as you can. What's wrong if you complete it a week early unless it is time sensitive? If it is time sensitive, you may have to recruit help.

Manic Mondays are the result of things that go sour over the weekend. We all have those times, Monday or otherwise, when our direct supervision of the situation is not practical or possible. The fires that spring up require immediate attention.

While everyone likes a respite from their job, some jobs require us to take a little time to track them, even over a weekend. This is why communication devices are so popular with businesses. If you can't check on the progress or problems, then get some help so it can be done. Work to establish guidelines of when you should be directly contacted if questions or problems arise in your absence. Solve any problems you hear about as soon as possible. Most real problems only get worse with time.

Sometimes additional targeted training of employees or clients can help ward off problems before they can occur or increase to a panic level. A few hours spent here can save days later on.

Learn more about this author, Allen Teal.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to avoid panicking over Friday deadlines and manic Mondays?
We want to hear your view. Write now!