Every deadline that matters to us comes with an “IF”—a condition that, if met, either adds something to our lives or at least prevents a loss.
On one hand, deadlines motivate us to address the issue at hand. On the other, if the time required to meet them pushes the limits of our capabilities or the goal seems unattainable, they prioritize our programmed, automatic behavior, trapping us in a “hamster wheel” in the long term.