As many professionals prepare to close out their workloads ahead of upcoming holidays, the pressure of deadlines remains a defining feature of the work environment. This sentiment was underscored recently by Pope Leo during a visit to Barcelona, where he presided over a special Mass celebrating the near completion of the Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí’s renowned modernist cathedral that has been under construction for more than a century.

The Sagrada Família, initiated by Gaudí in the late 19th century, remains unfinished nearly 100 years after his death in 1926. This year marked a significant milestone with the installation of a large mosaic cross on its tallest tower, prompting the pontiff’s decision to recognize this moment even though the cathedral still stands partially covered in scaffolding. Gaudí famously remarked about his project that the “client”—referring to God—was “not in a hurry,” an outlook contrasting sharply with the urgency that typically characterizes professional work environments.

For many workers, particularly in fast-paced fields like journalism, the reality of deadlines is less forgiving. Unlike Gaudí’s extended timeline, newsrooms operate under strict cutoffs, with each article required to meet publication schedules. This urgency ensures that although multiple projects may be in progress simultaneously, few are left perpetually unresolved. The inevitability of deadlines helps to limit unfinished work and fosters a discipline that those managing longer-term projects, such as doctoral candidates, can find challenging.

The mental strain associated with prolonged endeavors resonates with those undertaking extensive academic or creative work. Statistics show that about 16.2 percent of PhD candidates in the United Kingdom do not complete their degrees, highlighting the difficulty of sustaining momentum over many years. Gaudí’s intense religious faith is often credited with sustaining his decades-long commitment to the Sagrada Família, a level of dedication that may be rare outside of such profoundly motivating contexts.

While most professional outputs are not grand architectural marvels or literary masterpieces, the principle of delivering work to a respectable standard within a defined timeframe remains essential. The analogy to Gaudí’s cathedral serves as a reminder that progress, even when incomplete, is valuable and sometimes marking a significant interim conclusion is necessary.

For those without externally imposed deadlines, setting firm goals can provide structure and motivation. Embracing the concept of a decisive endpoint aligns with advice from figures such as Franz Kafka, who noted that once a certain moment is reached, “there is no more turning back.” The recent ecclesiastical recognition of the Sagrada Família’s topping-off ceremony reflects this philosophy—that projects can reach a meaningful stage of completion even if there is more work ahead.

In the end, whether managing the creation of a monumental cathedral or meeting workplace demands, the act of finishing to the best of one’s ability within the time available remains a vital and often liberating discipline.