10x your productivity almost overnight
Use Parkinson’s Law to change your life.
I first would like to point out that this is a law. It is not a hypothesis or theory.
It is as real as gravity.
It has stood the test of time and has been proven time and time again.
The first one to coin the term was Cyril Northcote Parkinson in 1955.
Now that we know this is a law that can’t be broken, what is it?
What It Means
Parkinson’s Law states that a task will take longer the more time we have to complete it. The less time we have, the more productive we are.
Let’s use an example.
Let’s say that you are back in school and have a 10-page paper due in one week.
You will not be productive for those first few days. After day seven or eight, you might finally begin writing.
However, you will do most of your work on the tenth day. The same day that it’s due.
Now take the same 10-page paper, except it’s due in 24 hours.
You now have much less time, so your productivity increases.
You will do the research, writing, formatting, and editing all in a few hours. You will be more focused than ever before.
Why Our Work Fills The Time Available
Procrastination.
It’s something we’ve all faced.
It’s human nature to wait as long as possible to complete a task. We want to conserve how energy.
It’s baked into our DNA.
When a due date is fast approaching, it gives us that kick in the ass that we desperately need.
We can accomplish most tasks we are given in less time than given. We choose to be lazy and wait until they absolutely need to get done.
How To Overcome It
Right, so now you know what it is and why it happens.
How can you overcome it and destroy procrastination forever?
The first step is to prioritize.
Look at everything that you would like to get done for the day.
Then pick two or three tasks at MOST to get done for the day.
In the beginning, it’s fine to pick one task.
When you get that done, you should feel like the day was a success.
Set A Timeline
Pick an amount of time that you would like to get the project done.
Don’t be too lenient with yourself. At the same time, be realistic.
Once you have an allotted time, stick to it.
Don’t give yourself any extra time. Stick to the schedule no matter what.
If you can’t complete it in the given time, you need to move it to the next day and allot a new amount of time.
If that is your only task for the day and you have the time, you can laser in and finish it to make that day a success.
Eliminate Distractions
The big one to eliminate is your phone.
Turn it off and place it in a different room.
You will be surprised at what you can accomplish when you don’t have your phone screaming at you to look at it. Try this for a day or two to elevate your productivity.
Other distractions may include your TV or other people in your home.
Ideally, complete your work alone with no phone behind a closed door.
Focus completely on the task at hand. Start off with small chunks of time around 30 minutes to an hour.
Once you get better at it, you will be able to focus for longer.
10X Your Productivity
You now know what the law is and how it works.
Next time you are feeling like you are procrastinating, refer back to these tips and lock in your focus.
You may get distracted every so often, but work on getting right back into that productivity zone.
Use your new knowledge to kick procrastination's ass and be your most productive self.
You will be surprised about what you can do.
