A Softness of Deadlines

I can't remember exactly when I first heard the term "soft deadline" but, irritating as it is when unilaterally applied from without to something YOU thought was absolutely and irrevocably a HARD deadline, it does have its uses.  For example, when you set yourself a deadline in a spirit of enthusiasm and optimism and mild stupidity.  For example, my deadline for this rewriting of the work-in-progress being completed by tomorrow.  

Did I say tomorrow?  What I MEANT was the end of the month.*  Softly does it.

*This is not as generous as it sounds.  I'm out of the house every day next week, RLF Fellowing at Dundee, a Walking Mountain event in Forfar, a workshop on YA fiction for Creative Writing students, an RLF event in Edinburgh.  So when I say the end of the month, I'm sure I mean every word ...