Deadlines
Whoosh!
Douglas Adams is reported to have given this nice quote:
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by....and no, I'm not under a deadline myself. But observing the girlfriend on hers, I can't fail to notice some things. I think they teach you something about time and the significance of the moment. When one is so close to the iron gate of the deadline, one wishes to be able to bring back those days when giving a bit of slack for a few hours was just fine. What could be done in those few hours now!
I'd like to add that I'm in no way passing a judgment, except maybe on myself: I'm a lot into delaying stuff till it's almost too late. I have the notion that I've improved my manners in this matter, but currently there is no way to prove that :-).