It’s easy to put things off when there’s a long lead time and many of us find ourselves leaving things to the last minute. However, when you get busy, that deadline can come up very quickly.

Here are some top tips on how you can be more efficient, feel less overwhelmed and avoid missing an important deadline – such as PPI on the 29^th August.

Top 5 Tips for meeting deadlines

1. Plan ahead – keep work and life admin separate.

It may sound simple but take time out to put important deadlines in your diary. Mark them up on a calendar or wall chart, with a big red marker if need be, so you can’t miss them. 

Look ahead at what’s coming up – not just in the next week but ahead to the next few months. You’re regularly reminded there’s an important date coming up. Whether it’s your tax return, an anniversary or birthday or the PPI deadline. What’s the lead time? How much time do you need to start and finish the task?

Plan to complete work tasks in working hours rather than leaving them to the evening or weekend. It’s too easy to get busy with social or personal things so you’re less likely to have time to clear those tasks and they just get delayed again. Plan personal tasks for evenings, weekends or in your lunch break.

2. Work backwards!

Count back from the deadline date you want to complete a task, to give yourself plenty of time. Set a ‘false’ end date, to give yourself a buffer. If you hit a problem or get delayed, you’ll still have time. Set reminders and alerts to pop up in advance – a constant nudge and a reminder that this task is important.

3. Do it now!

Rather than reverting to ‘I’ll do it later’, do it now or sooner than you’d originally planned. 

How many times have you put something off to next week or next month only to find that something else comes up and you’re now busy? Suddenly you’re left with too many things that become urgent. If you catch yourself putting something off too often, when you’re next reminded, do it there and then. At least take the first step to get the ball rolling. e.g. check the FCA’s PPI provider list and make a note of who you need to contact.  

4. Value your tasks.

There are so many choices with how you use your time each day that it can seem overwhelming trying to fit everything in. But if you have something really important to do, you can find the time.

How much time do you spend on low value tasks – flicking through videos, browsing the internet? Commit to completing a higher value task (complete important paperwork) and take positive action as a priority instead.

How much ‘idle’ time do you have waiting for a meeting or appointment, on your daily commute? Use the time to complete a high value task on your list.

5. Make it manageable.

Often, when faced with a long list it can feel like there is just too much to do – but that’s not necessarily the case.

• Write everything down in one place.
• Break tasks into manageable steps.
• How long will each one take? Best guesstimate if you’re not sure.
• Prioritise your tasks – from Urgent, do Today, Important, not Important.
• Group similar tasks together and do them at the same time – e.g. emails, phone calls or research on the internet.
• Plan when you’re going to do them – allocate a specific time to that group.
• Do the most important task first.

You’ll be making progress before you know it. 

Find out more about how to check, how to complain to your providers for free on the FCA website before the August 29th deadline.

Check your own time habits and improve your ability to meet your deadlines. Take the first step, complete the Time Quiz.