tips for handling deadlines?

[limestone]

saw a couple of posts on main about school work - leaving it until the last minute and i wondered if people had any tips on how to not let this happen or things they do etc to manage the problem.
thanks,
limes

[mallie]

I've been known for being pretty terrible about leaving things late to get started. Its something I'm working on at the moment. I was actually having a discussion about this sort of thing IRL tonight, so I've got a few thoughts fresh in my mind.

Being organised from the start helps. Planning to do things in smaller sessions so it isn't so overwhelming can make a difference.

Setting goals is something that can help. If a project is large and detailed, working out what steps are needed to get from the start to the end is a good way to go - it gives landmarks to know things are on track along the way. I'm setting some goals, and am going to talk to my supervisor at uni about it, and arrange more regular meetings. This way, if she knows what I'm hoping to achieve in a period of time, I'll be accountable to someone else -> this can be a huge incentive for me.

In the past I've used small rewards to get me to do things, almost a bribery sort of thing. Maybe not the best way, but it can help.

[Spidey]

a good thing also is to write a 'to do' list and either star or circle what is *most* important. either have a big long list, or categorise it (school, personal, things that *must be done* irregardless of subject), and then just go down the list. it can bring one a good sense of fulfillment to see each thing they have to do crossed off.

another good thing is to give yourself frequent breaks if the task is hard. i know for me especially i'll want to procrastinate more on a given task if the task is difficult and/or mind-numbing. when you work on it, work on it on 30-minute or 1-hour chunks.

[Eccie]

Sometimes I trick myself by pretending the due date is earlier than it is and then I get it done sooner.
I also find to-do lists extremely helpful.

Thanks

[Unleash the Bats]

im in that exact place...
my reward for doing 2,000 words of history coursework is an hour online.
and maybe a bar of chocolate on the way home

i dont no, i tend to find that it isnt so much lack of orgaisation as it is a lack of motivation.

[ebmcs]

I would try to start an assignment the day it was assigned. Then I'd work on it maybe 15-30 minutes each day. I'd finish it way before it was due, so I never had to stress out over meeting a last minute deadline. Also, if something came up early with friends, etc., it was okay because I still had time before the deadline, and towards the end it was okay because the work was finished. I loved that freedom. Also for me, little chunks were easier than sitting down to a ten page paper one night.