Deadlines are powerful forces in our work, signaling what’s most important, forcing focus, and driving tasks to completion. That’s why projects that don’t have a deadline can languish on your task list for weeks, months, or even years.
How to Motivate Yourself When You Don’t Have a Deadline
Set up your own incentives and rewards.
September 04, 2019
Walter B. McKenzie/Getty Images
Summary.
Deadlines help us prioritize our work and get it done on time. But how do you get started on a project that doesn’t have one? Try giving yourself a target end date, establishing a certain amount of time to work on the project each week, or taking one step toward completion each day. Hold yourself accountable by enlisting support. When you tell someone your time frame for completing the work and send them updates regularly, you have a greater incentive to make progress. Finally, incentivize yourself. Give yourself a reward for the work you do, take away something you enjoy if you don’t complete your task as planned, or set yourself up to enjoy your time while working. Motivating yourself to do non-deadline tasks is a challenge, but it’s not insurmountable.