Deadlines

It always makes me smile when I’m bugged about a deadline. We’re encouraged as a society to get things done before the deadline. Why?

If I decide to wait until THE deadline to finish something, it’s seen as a negative thing. But I’ve met the deadline. There’s this unspoken, ‘wink wink, nudge nudge’ where, yes, there’s a “deadline,” but you should really finish it before then. Give me a good reason then, why you didn’t move the deadline up, if you truly don’t want me wait UNTIL the deadline? If the deadline is April 30th, then stop reminding me, and badgering me that I should get it done. I have until April 30th. If you wanted it done March 15th, then make the deadline….March 15th. Make any sense?

It’s a silly social norm we have.

Sure, it shows “work ethic,” “responsibility,” and “initiative.” But does it really? Because I’d venture I could exceed expectations a hundred times, but that one time I wait until the last minute, I’ll be getting ‘polite’ reminders.

Perhaps this is just my procrastination talking.