India, March 7 -- Is it deadline-o'clock again? While most lives are driven by alerts, reminders and cut-off points, for some, the countdown to zero hour brings only stress. Suddenly, a one-hour task seems impossible even where there are 60 minutes to spare.

It's not just creative folks who wait for great ideas to materialise. Even code-writers, CEOs and corporate types freeze as deadlines approach. It's not procrastination, it's often low-key unfounded fear. Five professionals share their hacks on overcoming deadline paralysis. Read up before the alarm rings. Just kidding!

Start somewhere. After one too many "staring contests with deadlines" and trying to manifest perfect pitches at the last minute, marketer Bhagyashree Kolge Paralkar,...