Learning how to properly manage your time is essential to the success of any project. Deadlines need to be met and maintained in order to keep the work on track. However, in today’s work environment, it seems like the idea of deadlines has given way to that of guidelines. Can deadlines really be referred to as such when they are constantly being pushed back, and final warnings turn into final, final warnings?
As any project manager who has a pmp certification will tell you, deadlines need to be adhered to in order for any project to run smoothly. But even more than that, successful project managers will suggest to not wait until the deadline is upon you before starting your work. By keeping ahead of the deadline, you will save yourself a lot of trouble in the long run.
Reduce Stress
Stress is overly-common in today’s workforce. Nearly everybody who has worked somewhere will say they have experienced some form of work-related stress. One of the biggest causes of this stress is deadlines. Living with a looming deadline can cause issues that seep into your everyday life. Lying awake at night, unable to sleep because of a deadline that is approaching or has passed is all-too common. By keeping ahead of your deadline, however, you will greatly reduce any work-related stress in your life, which can ultimately lead to less stress overall, as it can improve your work-life balance.
Allow For the Unexpected
Life happens. We all know that sometimes the unexpected can occur, which can derail even the best laid plans. Although this can be a valid excuse for any missed deadline, having to deal with this out-of-the-ordinary occurrence, while also knowing you have this work that needs to be done, can greatly exacerbate the problem. If your work was already completed, though, when life throws you a curveball, you can turn your whole focus on that, and not have anything else clogging up your brain.
Room For Improvement
Like any good project, walking away from it and then returning can give you a fresh perspective, sometimes allowing you to see the solution to something you have previously missed, or let you find a mistake that was overlooked the first time. By finishing your project ahead of the deadline, you are giving yourself ability to spend time away from the project and then return to it at a later date. This will ultimately improve the quality of your work allow you to put forth your best effort.
If you are crunched by a deadline, not only will your work most likely have mistakes, it will often not be your best effort. Avoiding the last-minute rush will greatly assist in showcasing the best work you can do.
Helping Others
It is true that you should ensure your own work is done before offering to help others with theirs. Otherwise, both of your work will suffer. Finishing yours ahead of time, however, will let you be available to help others with their work. Doing this will not only help the team as a whole, it can also ingratiate you to your team leader or project manager. Showing that you can not only handle your own work, but are also willing to finish early so you can help others, is an admirable trait in any employee.
