The Time You Have Dictates How Long A Task Takes ⏳

(Have you heard of Parkinson’s Law before?)

I’ve recently caught myself doing it again…

In the context of bureaucratic growth, British historian C. Northcote Parkinson (not the same as the disease!) discovered that:

“Work expands to fill the time available, no matter how simple the task is.”

In one example, he compares an elderly lady taking half a day to send a postcard to a busy man who does it in three minutes.

Why do us humans tend to do this?

1️⃣ Psychological comfort: More time reduces immediate stress, which often leads to procrastination

2️⃣ Perfectionism: Extra time encourages over-complicating or perfecting tasks unnecessarily

3️⃣ Resource utilization: There's a natural tendency to use all available time, even when it's not necessary.

What can you do about it?

✅ Set strict deadlines: Shorter, realistic deadlines help focus effort and cut down on procrastination

✅ Prioritize efficiency: Focus on completing tasks efficiently rather than perfectly. This encourages more productive work habits

✅ Time management techniques: Use methods like the Pomodoro Technique (splitting tasks into 4x 25-min units with 10-20 minute breaks) or time blocking to create urgency and limit the time spent on each task

Time is your biggest asset in business, whether you're employed or working for yourself.

Next time you have extra free time, use it well before things get stressful again. 😉