The Law

“It is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”

The first time I heard Parkinson’s Law I felt immediate satisfaction. This phenomenon has a name. This recurring issue in my life is not limited to me… it’s commonplace.

I know that I need to work at disciplining myself so that my tasks don’t take up more than their fair share of my time. I know that “multi-tasking” makes my work drag on longer and longer. I know that I’ll be happier if I work more efficiently and leave myself time to relax and read a good book every night.

But at least I get some pleasure out of knowing that Parkinson’s Law is officially recognized.

The Essay

So who is Parkinson?

C. Northcote Parkinson (1909-1993) was a British naval historian and author of naval novels and various non-fiction. His law, as stated above, is the first sentence in a humorous essay published in The Economist on November 19, 1955.

The Book

The essay was then included in a book entitled Parkinson’s Law; Or the Pursuit of Progress, first published in 1957.

I thought I’d share the covers from various editions that have been published over the past seven decades.

In “Parkinson’s Law,” Parkinson focuses on the growth of bureaucracy, but the beauty of his law is that it can be applied so broadly.

What steps do you take to make sure your tasks don’t expand to fill every available minute? Does it please you when you discover that a phenomenon has a name?

Featured image: C. Northcote Parkinson via BBC