What are the best ways to stay motivated when working on a deadline?

Working on a deadline can be stressful and challenging, especially if you have multiple tasks to juggle, competing priorities, or unexpected obstacles. However, deadlines are also an opportunity to showcase your skills, creativity, and professionalism, and to achieve your goals. To stay motivated when working on a deadline, you need to adopt some strategies that can help you manage your time, energy, and emotions effectively. Here are some of the best ways to do that.

1 Set SMART goals

One of the first steps to stay motivated when working on a deadline is to set SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria can help you clarify what you want to accomplish, how you will measure your progress, whether your goals are realistic and attainable, how they align with your purpose and values, and when you will complete them. By setting SMART goals, you can break down your deadline into smaller and more manageable milestones, and keep track of your achievements.

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Riya Gangwar

Senior Operations Team Lead | Driving Efficiency, Quality, and Team Success | Employee Relations and Marketing Researcher | Orchestrating Synergies for Client and Team Excellence
- **Break it Down:** Divide the task into smaller steps. - **Set Milestones:** Establish interim goals within the deadline. - **Prioritize Tasks:** Focus on high-priority elements first. - **Create a Schedule:** Develop a realistic time plan. - **Visualize Success:** Envision completing the project successfully. - **Take Breaks:** Schedule short breaks to avoid burnout. - **Seek Support:** Share your progress for accountability. - **Celebrate Progress:** Acknowledge small achievements. - **Eliminate Distractions:** Create a focused work environment. - **Remind Yourself of the Why:** Revisit the task's purpose and importance.
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Michael Molenaar

Marketing | Communications| Columnist| Business Development & Partnerships |Digital Marketing| comsulting| helping organisations achieve growth that aligns with organisational strategy.
I think for me Motivation should be: What is the end goal? Deadlines are the unerring part of the professional life and demands. Personally, I would do a triage because almost always there are things calling for your attention, and rightly so. So, to ensure you are not caught in the Web, consider what is most important, important and less important, given the time to deliver in relation to the size of the task. What can also be helpful is breaking down the task into smaller pieces. That way, you're able to stay motivated by looking at the big picture and ensuring your efforts are directed to those.
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Anne-Marie Ebele

I help Leaders, Trainers, and Entrepreneurs break procrastination, maximize their productivity and unlock their full potential.
To stay motivated when working on a deadline do the following: Break tasks down: Divide work into manageable chunks. Set milestones: Track progress to stay motivated and focused. Reward yourself: Offer incentives for reaching milestones or completing tasks. Stay organized: Use tools like to-do lists or planners to manage time effectively. Take breaks: Rest periods maintain energy and prevent burnout while working towards the deadline. I hope this helps
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2 Plan your schedule

Another way to stay motivated when working on a deadline is to plan your schedule ahead of time. Planning your schedule can help you allocate your time and resources efficiently, prioritize your tasks, and avoid procrastination and distractions. You can use various tools, such as calendars, planners, apps, or timers, to organize your daily, weekly, and monthly activities, and to set reminders and deadlines for yourself. You can also use the Eisenhower matrix, a method that divides your tasks into four categories based on their urgency and importance, to help you decide what to do first, what to delegate, what to schedule, and what to eliminate.

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Nneka Chiazor

Leading at the intersection of technology, people, and results
Prioritizing tasks is key to staying motivated under the pressure of a deadline and will help you focus on what matters most and avoid wasting time on less important activities. Be realistic about your priorities and know it's also crucial to be flexible and adapt to unexpected changes or new priorities that may arise. Planning ahead helps alleviate stress by providing a sense of control and organization. Earlier in my career, I would rush to meet deadlines and cringe afterwards at the mistakes I’d made. It was 😣 . I had the fortune of having a leader who gave me grace to get it right and not rushed! Remember to be open to refining your schedule as needed to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and priorities.
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3 Reward yourself

A third way to stay motivated when working on a deadline is to reward yourself for your efforts and accomplishments. Rewarding yourself can help you boost your morale, celebrate your successes, and reinforce your positive habits. You can choose any type of reward that suits your preferences and needs, such as taking a break, watching a show, reading a book, eating a snack, listening to music, or spending time with friends or family. The key is to make sure that your rewards are proportional to your goals, and that they don't interfere with your productivity or well-being.

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Kristen Tonne

Manager Loan Modification @ Mr. Cooper | Transforming Teams
I like to reward my team. I like to play games in the middle of a hard deadline, it helps. When we have had a hard week with deadlines I do trivia or riddles, my team loves the mixture of work and fun.
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4 Seek feedback

A fourth way to stay motivated when working on a deadline is to seek feedback from others. Feedback can help you improve your performance, learn from your mistakes, and gain new perspectives and insights. You can ask for feedback from your peers, mentors, managers, clients, or customers, depending on the nature and scope of your project. You can also use various methods, such as surveys, interviews, reviews, or ratings, to collect feedback from different sources. The important thing is to be open-minded, respectful, and appreciative of the feedback you receive, and to use it constructively to enhance your work.

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5 Stay positive

A fifth way to stay motivated when working on a deadline is to stay positive. Staying positive can help you cope with stress, overcome challenges, and maintain your enthusiasm and confidence. You can use various techniques, such as affirmations, gratitude, optimism, or humor, to cultivate a positive mindset and attitude. You can also surround yourself with positive people, such as mentors, colleagues, friends, or family, who can support you, encourage you, and inspire you. Additionally, you can avoid negative influences, such as criticism, complaints, or gossip, that can undermine your motivation and self-esteem.

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6 Take care of yourself

A sixth and final way to stay motivated when working on a deadline is to take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself can help you preserve your physical, mental, and emotional health, and prevent burnout and fatigue. You can do this by following some basic self-care practices, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, drinking water, and breathing deeply. You can also practice some relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or massage, to reduce your tension and anxiety. Furthermore, you can balance your work and life, by setting boundaries, saying no, and making time for your hobbies and interests.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best ways to stay motivated when working on a deadline?

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Set SMART goals

2 Plan your schedule

3 Reward yourself

4 Seek feedback

5 Stay positive

6 Take care of yourself

7 Here’s what else to consider

Interpersonal Skills

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What are the best ways to stay motivated when working on a deadline?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Set SMART goals

2 Plan your schedule

3 Reward yourself

4 Seek feedback

5 Stay positive

6 Take care of yourself

7 Here’s what else to consider

Interpersonal Skills

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Thanks for your feedback

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