How to not Procrastinate

Due Date vs. Done By Date: Taking Control of Your Goals

Deadlines shape our lives. From work projects to personal obligations, we constantly face due dates—deadlines imposed by others that dictate when something must be completed. While due dates are unavoidable, they don’t have to control our productivity or ambitions. Instead, we should focus on done by dates—deadlines we set for ourselves to ensure we stay ahead, remain intentional, and take ownership of our goals.

The Power of Done By Dates

A due date is external. It’s set by a boss, a professor, a client—someone other than you. It dictates when something must be done, often creating stress and a reactive mindset.

A done by date, on the other hand, is internal. It’s a deadline you set for yourself, ensuring that you complete tasks on your terms. By setting done by dates, you’re not waiting until the last moment to scramble under pressure; you’re proactively taking charge, staying disciplined, and fostering self-reliance.

A Masculine Approach to Achievement

Establishing done by dates is a masculine quality. Why? Because it means you’re not letting external forces dictate your pace—you are setting the pace. You’re not passively reacting to demands; you’re actively determining the course of action. True leadership requires autonomy, discipline, and vision, and these qualities manifest when you commit to finishing tasks before they are demanded of you.

This mindset is about ownership. Instead of waiting for pressure from a looming deadline, you create pressure for yourself through self-imposed deadlines. You aren’t just meeting expectations—you’re exceeding them on your terms.

The Importance of SMART Goals

To be effective, done by dates need structure. They should align with the SMART goal framework:

• Specific – Clearly define what needs to be done.
• Measurable – Ensure there’s a way to track progress.
• Achievable – Set a realistic, yet challenging, goal.
• Relevant – Make sure the goal aligns with your larger vision.
• Time-Bound – Establish a firm done by date before the due date.

For example, instead of saying, “I need to finish this report by Friday” (the due date), a done by date might be: “I will complete 75% of the report by Wednesday at noon and finalize it by Thursday at 3 PM.”

This approach ensures you’re always ahead, never scrambling at the last minute. It also allows time for revision, feedback, and improvement—things that rarely happen when tasks are completed at the last possible moment.

Master Your Time, Master Your Life

When you embrace done by dates, you shift from a reactive existence to a proactive life. You lead yourself rather than being led by external demands. You set the standard instead of merely meeting expectations. This shift doesn’t just make you more productive—it builds confidence, self-respect, and a reputation for reliability.

Take control. Set your done by dates. Become the architect of your own success.