Comments on: Why Don’t You Finish Early?

By: Orgacity » Post Topic » #GTD 10 trucs à arrêter de faire… pour en faire plus !

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:11:04 +0000

[...] – Êtes-vous au courant qu’il existe des deadlines ? Pourquoi ne finissez-vous pas ce projet plus tôt ? Toute tâche laissée inachevée va inévitablement générer plus de [...]

By: Tips From The Time Management Ninja. Ten Thinks to Stop Doing to Increase Productivity. : Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:26:37 +0000

[...] – Do you ignore deadlines? Why don’t you try finishing that next project early? Tasks left undone can actually create more work for [...]

By: Mariana

Mariana — Mon, 24 May 2010 03:41:46 +0000

Great article! And so true. I am not the one who finishes everything ahead of time, but exceptions happened J. Back in college…many many years ago, I had a project that was two-parts. Part one was due at the end of spring semester and part two was due at the end of fall semester. I managed to finish my part one just on time for finals. One of my co-workers (I worked and studied at the same time) suggested that I should keep working on the project while it was still fresh. As I had a whole summer off and all materials for part two ready, I decided to follow the advice and keep working on it. I finished it by the first week of September. My college allowed to re-take finals in the first week of the next semester for those who didn't do well. I decided to give a try and came with my part two as well. I passed it with the highest mark. The professor asked which group I was and I told him. He was shocked. He had students with half-finished part one and here came someone with the fully finished project. He was impressed. The fall semester happened to be the hardest I had thru the college; however, the completed project saved my time and sanity.

By: Tim Wilson

Tim Wilson — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:26:54 +0000

Excellent proposition and article, Craig, and one that I totally agree with.

I use a system that is based on the idea of doing something when it 'shows up, not when it blows up'.

It's based on the premise that, whatever you're given, start it the next day. then do it daily, until it's done.

The important point to remember is that it's not about how much you do daily -- it's the fact that you DO it daily.

For example...

Monday - given the project
Tuesday - start
Wednesday - work on it
Thursday - work on it some more

... and so on until it's done.

This seems to work because you know what to do each day, but you choose how much to do. The 'do it daily' approach keeps the momentum going -- the 'do what you like' angle reduces the resistance and degree of procrastination.

Your example of from college was interesting because you blasted through the work and finished early.

That's okay if there are acceptable consequences for not doing the other things in life.

As a husband, father, teacher, webmaster and band member I choose to keep several plates spinning each day, so effective time management for me depends on my ability to know when to stop wotking on something as much as being able to start or continue.

By: Craig Jarrow

Craig Jarrow — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:47:58 +0000

Oliver, thanks for the comment.

It seems that most people have become accustomed to finishing things last minute.

It is very empowering and fulfilling to finish ahead of schedule. And to your point, allows you time to re-check your work.

By: Oliver Meehan

Oliver Meehan — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:03:32 +0000

Thanks Craig. I also prefer to finish things early where possible – I really value having the time to then do a check-read and consider what needs polishing.

By: Oliver Meehan

Oliver Meehan — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:03:32 +0000

Thanks Craig. I also prefer to finish things early where possible – I really value having the time to then do a check-read and consider what needs polishing.

By: Craig Jarrow

Craig Jarrow — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:18:42 +0000

Farouk, I agree with you.

In fact, even worse…is that procrastination can be contagious! I have seen entire workplaces that contract it and then the company wonders why nothing gets done.

By: farouk

farouk — Sat, 15 May 2010 12:34:43 +0000

procrastination is one of the dangerous habits a person can learn, thanks for making thins clear

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:40:07 +0000

I think people sometime finish late, not only because of procrastination, but also to protect their job, and if they finish early, they would just get more work, or in case of contractor, their contract might stop earlier, so no income…
Very difficult to find a good balance between this (for a lot of people), i don't have an issue with it

@patman2520