I have a major deadline due at the end of this month for a big project I’ve been working on. Part of me wants to panic. But I know that if I panic, I will become unproductive. I’ll spend more time worrying instead of writing. So here are a few tips on how to make those looming deadlines less stressful.

Pray

This seems like a duh! solution, but it is easy to sink into panic mode and forget to pray. So, I am challenging myself that when I start to think about the deadline, that I will lift it up to the Lord. I am asking Him for calm, inspiration, and joy, and that He multiplies the work of my hands. And I’m asking Him for that peace that surpasses all understanding. Prayer is vital because it keeps that connection with the Lord open so He can work through me.

I also plan to reach out to some of my prayer warrior friends when I need that extra spiritual support. I know a quick text to these faithful ones will bring immediate intervention for me.

Post Inspirational Verses

For this particular project (which I didn’t think I was qualified for, but the Lord thought otherwise for blessing me with it), I have one verse that really spoke to me as I was preparing to research and to write. Proverbs 16:3 states, “Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.”

I wrote this out on a sticky note and attached it to my laptop. Every time I open up my computer, I see this verse, and I feel encouraged. The Lord is the source of my strength and my help. This project is dedicated to Him, so I need His input at all times.

Besides, inspirational verses are excellent reminders of God’s faithfulness to us.

Stay Focused and Committed

It’s so easy to get distracted when working on big projects. But it is so vital now, especially during this crunch time, to stay on task and to keep moving forward. I’m not always huge on writing out a plan or schedule (I often stray from them anyway), but I need to give myself mini-deadlines so that I can breakdown the project into manageable parts. This will reduce the panic and stress tremendously since mini-completions are a plus!

And, I make sure to reward myself when these little tasks get done. Maybe that comes with a special treat for lunch or a trip to the park to read a fun book for thirty minutes. Not only do the rewards encourage me in the progress, but they give me a break so that I can come back and focus for a few hours more.

We don’t need to immediately panic when deadlines are pressing and a busy life makes us feel stressed. We can turn to the Lord, seek His guidance and comfort, and trust He will help us as we move forward. We can never go wrong with turning to Jesus!

What do you do for those Crunch Time moments?

Catherine L. Osornio has written inspirational articles for a women’s ministry newsletter, over 200 leveled reader stories for a school’s reading program, fiction and nonfiction articles for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines, The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, Thunder Comes a Rumblin’, Mosquitoes Infect!, Danger on Martin Mountain, plus various work-for-hire projects.A former elementary school librarian, Catherine is passionate about sharing the love of reading. She enjoys cartooning, illustration, and reading kids’ books. Email her at CLOsornio@verizon.net or visit her at www.catherineosornio.com.

Unsplash.com photo credits: Markus Winkler, Ben White, Miriam G, and Steven Wright.