Do you find yourself getting things done faster when a deadline is near, but much slower when you have plenty of time? That may be Parkinson’s Law at work. It provides insight on managing everyday tasks and maximizing your 24 hours. Could it be the push you need to improve efficiency and productivity without feeling overwhelmed?

Learn How Parkinson’s Law Works

Parkinson's Law was coined by British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson in 1955 and it argues that “work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” This can mean two things. First, if you give yourself plenty of time to finish a task, you’re likely to use up all the hours you allotted for that task, even if it could have been completed more quickly. On the other hand, if you set a tighter deadline, you may just complete the task more efficiently within that time frame. The law highlights how deadlines affect the way you work, including your pace and focus. 

How to Apply Parkinson's Law at Work

Here are four ways to apply Parkinson’s Law to make dreaded tasks a little bit more manageable. It will also help you develop a better understanding of how to be productive.

1. Move up deadlines.

One of the most effective ways to harness Parkinson's Law is by setting earlier personal deadlines for tasks. Instead of giving yourself a week to complete a report, try finishing it in three days. This manufactures a sense of urgency that helps you stay focused, avoid procrastination, and improve work efficiency. Moving up deadlines, even just for yourself, encourages you to concentrate on the task at hand and experience the value of finishing your work earlier.

2. Break down large projects.

How do you conquer a mountain? You do it one step at a time. The same applies to tackling big projects that take more time and effort. Avoid feeling daunted by planning and breaking the task down into easy-to-digest segments, each with its own deadline. In this case, Parkinson’s Law ensures that each smaller task is completed within a limited time frame. Another upside is it keeps projects from dragging on indefinitely, which helps anyone who works with clients who are vague about deadlines.

3. Try time blocking.

Time blocking can help you make better use of your working hours.

Time blocking is another effective technique that aligns with Parkinson's Law. It involves allocating specific blocks of time in your calendar for different tasks and sticking to these time frames strictly. When you do this, be as granular as possible. Include tasks that you wouldn’t otherwise schedule, like answering emails, which is actually very time-consuming. Add breaks, too. By assigning a fixed amount of time to each activity, you force yourself to work more efficiently and make better use of your working hours.

4. Implement the two-minute rule.

The two-minute rule suggests that if a task can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it immediately. This technique helps prevent small tasks from accumulating and becoming a dark cloud hanging over your day. When set aside, these tasks can take up mental space and snowball into a bigger workload. Here, Parkinson’s Law works by making sure minor tasks don’t take up more time than necessary.

Parkinson's Law reveals the dynamics between human nature, tasks, and time. By understanding this principle and consciously applying the strategies above, you’ll eventually figure out what works for you. Not only will you carry out more work in less time, but you’ll also gain discipline, a focused approach to task management, and more time to be creative. 

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