Deadlines are a funny thing. I buckle down and get things done for a tight timeline. But when the deadline is far in the distance, I feel like I have all the time in the world to get something done. And therefore nothing gets done.

A tight deadline is like the whirling dervish syndrome right before vacation—quickly tying up loose ends, getting tasks completed that have been sitting in the inbox for some time, and responding in short, succinct sentences to looming emails.

For me, it’s finding a good balance between the deadlines and the downtime for lasting endurance and happiness. Too much of either and I get cranky or bored.

Remember what summer felt like when you were a kid? Each day was like an eternity of open space. It was fantastic at the beginning, and when it was over, you were ready for school (or at least ready for something different).

Is there that type of balance in your life now? Do you have a chance to sit under the blue sky to daydream, balancing the get-it-done-now project that stretches your comfort zone?

Tags: dealines, downtime, happiness, endurance, balancing daily tasks, timeline