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Beat the COVID motivation slump with BYO Deadlines
In 2015 the National Science Foundation made an unusual decision. The funding agency ditched their annual deadline for four major grant proposals and moved to an anytime submissions system.
The decision solved a logistical challenge — once a year, program grant managers were overwhelmed with a deluge of applications — but the agency was also testing a hypothesis: “If we eliminate deadlines,” they wondered, “will fewer scientists apply for funding?”
The answer was a resounding “Yes.” After the NSF removed their annual deadline, the number of grant applications in a 12-month period dropped by 59%.
Deadlines = motivation
The NSF story strikes a cautionary note at a time when many of us are working from home. As COVID-19 drags on, many professionals are still self-isolating, facing workdays with little structure. When we’re not engaging as often with our team, manager, or clients, it can feel hard to keep up the pace of work we’re used to.
Slowing down for a few weeks isn’t a bad thing. But after a few months of typing in your pajamas, you may be ready to regain a higher level of focus and motivation. Deadlines can help.
Psychology studies show that cognitive performance improves if we know when a task will end…
