[brudgers]

It might not be as simple as it sounds. A project modeled with the Pareto Principle suggests that 80% of the work takes 20% of the time and the other 20% of work takes 80% of the time. Getting to 70% means about 80% of the effort is still in front of you. "Changing dumb small things, adding docs, etc." is in the 20% of work that takes 80% of the time and all the easy fast progress is over. Setting deadlines won't change that.

Hofstadter's Law is also a useful model for understanding projects. Setting deadlines won't change that either.

If what matters is finishing, forget about when it gets done. It's your project and it's ok to finish it when you finish it or not finish it at all. Other than in the form of goodwill, nobody else cares when or if you finish it. It's not a moral failing to quit doing something that you don't want to do when you are doing it for yourself.

Don't misunderstand me, the habit of finishing things is a somewhat useful habit. But the way to develop the habit is to start things that can realistically be finished. That's hard because things that can be realistically finished seem small and insignificant next to larger grander projects that are unlikely to finish.

Particularly if you are not working on the project in a team. Good luck.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstadter%27s_law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle