Writing Tips: 5 Ways to Make Sure You Never Miss a Deadline

Working to a deadline can be stressful. Some people, like author Douglas Adams, cope with this stress by ignoring deadlines entirely:

I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an option for your average student, as handing in an assignment late means losing marks. But how can you make sure you never miss a deadline? We have a few suggestions…

1. Start Early!

This might sound obvious, but the most common mistake people make when working to deadlines is to (wrongly) assume they have more time than they really do: One moment, you’ve got a month left to finish that essay. Next thing you know, your work’s due and you’re rushing the writing process.

You can avoid this stress (and the poor-quality work that usually results) simply by not leaving your paper until the last minute. Rather, you should:

• Note the final deadline date as soon as you get an assignment.
• Check your schedule and set time aside as required.
• Aim to finish the first draft with at least a week to spare.

That last point won’t always be possible, but it gives you a helpful buffer.

2. Have a Plan

To ensure you have enough time to finish your paper, formulate a plan before you start writing. This should include:

• The time you’ll need to research your paper.
• Time to write it up and redraft.
• A period for proofreading before you submit your work.

At the very least, try to sketch an outline of your argument so you know what you need to do for each section, as well as how the paper will hang together. This will make it much easier to overcome problems you face while working.

3. Break Tasks Down into Manageable Chunks

Sometimes, we put off tasks because they seem insurmountable. And if you have thousands of words to write, it might seem too much to take on.

But a well-written paper is rarely finished in one session. And if you’re working on a longer essay, you might want to take it on in smaller chunks.

This will make it seem less daunting, in addition to letting you schedule work more effectively. And providing you start early enough (see above), even a paragraph or two a day should get you over the finish line in time.

4. Prioritise Your Work

If you have a deadline approaching and a busy lifestyle, you need learn to to prioritise. This means knowing which tasks are most important and being willing to set other things aside until they’re done.

For example, you might have been invited to a party on Wednesday night. You might even be very excited about said party. But if you have an essay deadline on Thursday, you should probably ignore the party and put your work first.

Sorry to be a buzzkill about it, but that essay won’t write itself!

5. Conquer Procrastination

The final hurdle every student (and everyone else) must overcome when working to a deadline is the urge to procrastinate.

Time management is a big part of this, but it’s also important to create an environment free from distractions.

However, ‘not procrastinating’ doesn’t mean ‘work constantly’. You need to allow yourself regular breaks to avoid fatigue.