Understanding Parkinson's Law
Parkinson's Law was introduced by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in a satirical essay published in 1955. It states that "work expands to fill the time available for its completion." Allot two hours for a task that could genuinely be done in one, and you'll almost always find a way to make it fill the full two.
Productivity and Parkinson’s concept
This has real implications for productivity. People unconsciously stretch work to fill the time set aside for it, even when the task could genuinely be finished sooner — a pattern that quietly erodes efficiency in task and project management, and drags down overall output.
Parkinson's Law of Time
The Parkinson's Law of Time approach turns the observation into a strategy: set deadlines that are both realistic and tight, limiting how much a task can expand to consume. Used deliberately this way, you're turning Parkinson's Law to your advantage, rather than letting it work against you.
While taking part in our trainings on the 7 fundamental laws of time management, you'll learn to set deadlines that keep tasks moving rather than expanding — freeing up genuine time for other projects.
How to Implement Parkinson's Law with Time Blocking
Putting Parkinson's Law of Time Blocking into practice isn't as complicated as it might sound. Here are four key steps:
List out your tasks:
Start by making a list of all the tasks you need to complete. This includes everything from work tasks to personal errands.
Prioritise your tasks:
Once you have your list, prioritise the tasks based on their importance and urgency. This will help you decide which tasks to tackle first.
Allocate time blocks:
Next, allocate a specific time block to each task, being realistic about how long it will genuinely take. It's better to slightly underestimate and finish early than to set a generous window and watch the task expand to fill it.
Stick to your schedule:
Finally, stick to the time blocks you've set. Use a timer or alarm to keep yourself on track and ensure you don't exceed the allocated time.
The Impact of Parkinson's Law of Time using "blocks of time" on Teams
Time blocking under Parkinson's Law isn't just an individual technique — it can transform how teams and group projects run too. Clear, realistic deadlines for shared tasks keep everyone working more efficiently, and help ensure projects land on time and within budget.
Moreover, implementing Parkinson's Law of Time Blocking can help to reduce stress and improve work-life balance for team members. By ensuring that work doesn't expand to fill their entire day, individuals can have more time for personal activities and relaxation, leading to a healthier, happier work environment.
Overcoming Parkinson's Law through Time Blocking Techniques
Understanding and acknowledging the impact of Parkinson's Law on your work life is the first step in overcoming its effects. The principle states that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion, suggesting the potential for inefficiency in time management. Implementing time blocking strategies, however, can help mitigate this issue, driving productivity and efficiency.
Pomodoro Technique
One popular technique is the Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo. This method involves breaking work into 25-minute intervals, separated by five-minute breaks. After four consecutive intervals, a longer break of 15-30 minutes is taken. Applying this technique can help maintain focus and reduce the risk of tasks expanding to fill the time.
Eisenhower Model
Another concept is the 'Eisenhower Box' or 'Urgent/Important Matrix', a method of prioritising tasks based on their urgency and importance. Tasks are divided into four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. This provides a clear framework for deciding which tasks to tackle first, helping to ensure the efficient use of time.
The Power of Time Management in the Face of Parkinson's Law
As Cyril Northcote Parkinson observed nearly seventy years ago, "work expands to fill the time available for its completion." That single observation, now known as Parkinson's Law, still has profound implications for how we think about time management and productivity today.
However, with the right tools and strategies, it's possible to overcome the constraints of this law. Techniques like time blocking offer practical solutions, allowing us to set realistic boundaries for tasks and prevent them from consuming more time than necessary. Other methods, such as the Pomodoro Technique or 'Eisenhower Box', provide structured approaches to task prioritisation and time allocation.
What is Parkinson's Law in relation to time management?
Parkinson's Law holds that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. In time management terms, if you give yourself a week for a task that genuinely takes two hours, the task will psychologically inflate to fill that week — not necessarily with more actual work, but often with stress and tension about getting it done.
Other publications on the same topic
- What is Carlson's law of time management?
- What is the Pareto time management theory?
- What is the Hofstadter's law in Time management?
- What is the law of Taylor in time management?
- What is the Murphy's Law of time?
- What is Illich law of time management?
- Kotter's law and time management
- Brooks's Law and the man-month
- Swoboda-Fliess-Teltscher's Law
- Fraisse's Law: perception of Time
- Laborit's Law - The Law of the Least Effort
This article was written by Marc Prager.