The Parkinson’s Law: Shifting Perspective on Time

There’s a funny thing about time. Most of us don’t actually spend it working - we spend it thinking about working.

That’s why Parkinson’s Law rings so true - “Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.”

But here’s the twist: it’s not just about the hours on the clock. It’s about the perspective you carry into the task.

The Cooking Example

Let me share something simple.

I disdain cooking. The mornings when I had to cook, I would dread it. I’d think about it over and over, remind myself that it was waiting, delay it a little longer… and then finally get to it.

In my mind, it felt like a mountain.

But when I started timing it, I realized: the entire meal was done in 30 minutes. That’s it. So I flipped the script with my brain. Instead of telling myself, “Ugh, this will take forever,” I started saying, “This doesn’t even need that much of my brain space.” And everything shifted.

Perspective and Procrastination

Most procrastination isn’t about the task itself - it’s about the story we attach to it.

We tell ourselves it’s too big, too boring, too draining. And so the dread expands to fill our time long before the actual work does.

But when we shift our perspective, the task shrinks back to its true size.

Cooking isn’t endless. Emails aren’t soul-crushing. A report isn’t the end of the world. It’s just a chunk of time - usually less than we fear - and we get to decide how much of our energy it deserves.

Flipping the Script

Parkinson’s Law isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about clarity. It’s about reclaiming time from procrastination and fear by reframing the work itself.

• You don’t need to suffer for hours before beginning.

• You don’t need to give small tasks big mental weight.

• You can train yourself to act quickly and finish sooner - simply by changing your perspective.

Cheat Sheet: Applying Parkinson’s Law

• Time Your Tasks – Don’t guess. Track how long things actually take. Reality is often kinder than your imagination.

• Shrink the Space – Give less time than you think you need. Let efficiency rise to match it.

• Flip the Script – Remind your brain: “This doesn’t deserve that much of my energy.”

• Catch Procrastination Early – Notice when dread is taking more time than the task itself. Start anyway.

• Celebrate Small Wins – Every time you finish something faster, lock in that new perspective: It’s not as big as I thought.

Remember: Work expands only as much as you let it. The next time you catch yourself procrastinating, ask: “How small can this really be?”