Everything Takes Longer Than You Think

You consistently underestimate how long things will take — even things you have done before. This is the planning fallacy, and it is not a character flaw; it is how human brains work. We imagine the best-case scenario, ignore the delays we have experienced in the past, and plan for a version of reality where everything goes smoothly. It never does.

The simplest fix: look at how long similar tasks actually took last time, then add a buffer. If you think a project will take two weeks, it will probably take three or four. Plan for the realistic timeline, not the optimistic one. Your future self will thank you, and you will stop breaking promises to yourself and others.