Deadlines keep you ALIVE - a blog post

http://kanebennett.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/deadlines-keep-you-alive/

by kanebennett • 16 years ago

5 4 16 years ago

kanebennett.wordpress.com

I'd love to hear any thoughts or opinions on this post, and on my blog in general!

There's actually a name for what you're trying to describe in this post. It's called Parkinson's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinsons_Law), and it states that "work expands to fill the time available."

I'm not sure if you're trying to be self deprecating with that "overly simplified graph" line. Either way, I wouldn't panic about it too much. Kathy Sierra wrote some of the best user experience writing on the internet using diagrams that were just as simplistic.

plamenv• 16 years ago

I wish it was as easy as that. Real deadlines work because there is some external factor taking place. For example, you get fired by your boss if you don't put that important report on his desk by tomorrow. Or you'll be embarrassed if you don't keep the delivery deadline you've promised to a client.

When you're setting deadlines that only you know of, there is no possibility of getting "punished" so it's much easier to procrastinate. If it works for you, cool, but I know it doesn't work for me and most likely it doesn't work for the majority of people.

andre• 16 years ago

Without deadlines, I don't think, I would get anything done.

Deadlines keep you ALIVE - a blog post

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