Parkinson's law explained
Generous deadlines invite polishing, second-guessing and slow starts. Shorter, realistic deadlines force you to focus on what matters.
Timeboxing and self-imposed deadlines are the practical answer to Parkinson's law.
Try it today
- Halve the time you would normally give a routine task and see what happens.
- Set your own deadline earlier than the real one.
- Stop when time is up and judge whether more time would really help.
Where it comes from
Historian C. Northcote Parkinson stated the law in a satirical essay in The Economist in 1955, aimed at the growth of bureaucracy.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Parkinson's law?
- Parkinson's law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion: give a task a week and it will take a week.
- Where does Parkinson's law come from?
- Historian C. Northcote Parkinson stated the law in a satirical essay in The Economist in 1955, aimed at the growth of bureaucracy.
- How do I start with Parkinson's law?
- Halve the time you would normally give a routine task and see what happens. Set your own deadline earlier than the real one. Stop when time is up and judge whether more time would really help.
- Which tools help with Parkinson's law?
- Tools in our directory that help include TickTick, Sunsama, Google Calendar, Toggl Track. Each has its own page with pricing, pros and cons.