Work expands to fill the time available. Without a deadline, tasks stretch indefinitely. There is always more to do, more to improve, more to consider.
Deadlines create healthy pressure. They force prioritization. They demand completion over perfection. They turn vague intentions into concrete actions.
Set deadlines even when none are externally imposed. Commit to dates. Tell others. Create accountability that compels completion. The pressure is not comfortable, but it is productive.
What task needs a deadline to get finished?