Parkinson’s Law dictates that a task will swell in (perceived) importance and complexity in relation to the time allotted for its completion. Want to complete something in less time, budget less time for it and it will get done.
Parkinson’s law states that the amount of time you give a task to take, is the amount of time the task will take.
The more time you give a task, the more complicated and difficult it will seem. The additional time you have allotted yourself, also allows for greater distractions and lower-intensity work.
On the other hand, when you have only allotted a small amount of time for a task, the urgency does not afford the luxury for unnecessary complications, distractions or low-intensity work. You end up with doing high-intensity work with deep concentration, making you much more productive.
How to put Parkison’s law to action?
- Set shorter deadlines: Use a timer and make sure that you get it done within that time
- Say no to all forms of distractions: Helping make sure you don’t waste valuable time
Top Productivity Books that Refer to Parkinson’s Law
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
Authors: Richard Koch,
Did you know that 80% of your best work is a result of only 20% of your efforts? Every aspect of your life operates in this way. Koch teaches you how to maximize on this 20% and make better use of your time, resources, and efforts. Richard Koch’s insights are guaranteed to change your life.
The 4-Hour Workweek
Authors: Timothy Ferriss,
Since today is all you have for sure, Timothy Ferriss shows you how you can make the most of it. In The 4-Hour Workweek, you will learn how to earn your yearly income in one month, reduce your working hours and find more time for travel and leisure. All of this, without compromising on your performance.
Instant Productivity – How to Be Productive to Get Things Done Easier and Faster Instantly!
Authors: The Instant-Series,
Productivity is a combination of a lot of things, the implementation of which are not always easy. This is why most people learn how to be productive, but fail to actually become productive. Instant Productivity is a comprehensive and immediate guide to increasing productivity. Learn how to draw a productive process plan, make tasks more fun and less burdensome, measure your productivity and lots more!
Other concepts on Productivity
The Right Technique
We often do things the way we were taught, not because it’s the best way to do it. By keeping you mind open to new ideas and a little amount of research, you could be surprised by the vastly superior and more productive techniques that you can discover, that can boost your productivity and efficiency.
Focus
A flow state (or being in the zone) is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. This leads to a tremendous boost in productivity and enjoyment, in anything that you do.
Batching
Batching is where you gather all similar tasks and do them all at once. By completing them this way, you can maximize your focus on one type of task over a period of time, and therefore greatly increase your productivity on that particular job.
Being Busy
People get so tied down in getting things done, that they often lose sight of what it the real outcome (or value) of all the things that they are doing. Being Busy is often a sign of a person who has not prioritized his/her activities and is working on low-value repetitive tasks, with little to show in terms of results. There is no virtue in being busy. What matters are your results.