I don't need more time; I need a deadline!

So goes the saying (in various forms) attributed to Duke Ellington, twentieth-century jazz legend. I've always worked faster under a deadline; what about you? And have you ever thought about why that's true, or perhaps more importantly—and an easier question to answer—how you can harness that knowledge about yourself to get things done that you're procrastinating?

One thing to consider is that having a small box of time in which to get something done can be really comforting for a perfectionist. You know there's an end in sight, a point at which something must be done, no matter what shape it's in. Knowing the finish line is in sight can help to short-circuit the feeling of "it has to be JUST RIGHT."

When you know this, you can then fabulously harness the power of a deadline, even though no one else is expecting you to deliver. Here are a few of the strategies that have helped me:

➤ schedule a meeting that starts right at the end of my prime working time (for me, I feel most productive from about 10am to noon), so I know I have "only 2 hours" or so to get work done and then I'm free!

➤ start running the shower, and while I wait for the hot water to arrive, get one or two fast things done: run a stack of papers from the dining room table to my study, fold a stray throw in the living room, put away the dog's collar

➤ literally set a timer and focus on one bigger activity (30 minutes of writing, for example) or a few smaller ones (maybe 15 minutes to tidy up, put away dry dishes, return an email, make a phone call, pay a bill)

➤ be very specific with a task and know how long it will take: instead of blocking out an hour for "clean out car" on my calendar (a job that sounds painful so it feels like it will take a long time), I'll note instead "car: dust interior, wipe down seats and console, toss trash, vacuum" and block out 20 minutes, because I can picture very clearly what I need to do and have a good sense of how long it will take. Now that I know I only have to work for 20 minutes, I'm sure I'll get that job done.

What are some of the things you've tried? I'd love to hear in the comments below.