Struggling to get things done despite setting aside plenty of time? You might be falling victim to Parkinson’s Law – the idea that work expands to fill the time we give it. Discover how trimming your allotted time can boost focus, beat procrastination and supercharge your productivity. Whether you’re managing a packed schedule or navigating ADHD, these simple tweaks could change the way you work.
Listen to the podcast episode below, watch it on [Youtube], or scroll down for the summary!
Prefer to read it? Here are the main points!
In this episode, I want to give you a quick mindset tweak that can totally shift how productive you are in your freelance business – especially if you find yourself procrastinating on tasks that should be easy wins. It’s all to do with something called Parkinson’s Law.
What is Parkinson’s Law?
Parkinson’s Law is the idea that work expands to fill the time you allow for it. That means if you give yourself all day to do one task, you’ll probably take all day – not because it really needs that long, but because the time is just sitting there, waiting to be filled. Cue procrastination, distractions and late-afternoon panics.
This principle is especially relevant for freelancers and business owners who are juggling lots of spinning plates. Often, we block out a huge chunk of time to “get things done” and then wonder why nothing really moves forward.
Real Life Example: My Podcast Workflow
Let’s take these podcast episodes. I batch-record them once a month, and each one only takes about 15–20 minutes to record. If I gave myself the whole day to do them? I’d probably faff around for hours and only record one or two. But instead, I give myself a clear 2-hour window – enough to record several episodes and upload them for my team. And because I’ve time-boxed it, I stay focused and actually get it done.
The same goes for admin, pitching, content planning… almost everything. If you give yourself all of Wednesday to “work on pitching,” chances are you’ll get overwhelmed or put it off altogether. Instead, try blocking 30 minutes on Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 10:00 to send 3 pitches. Way more doable. Way more likely to happen.
What to Do If You Underestimate Time (ADHD Tip)
One exception to this rule: if you have ADHD and consistently underestimate how long things take, this approach might backfire. Instead, you may need to overestimate and build in extra buffer time so tasks don’t pile up or leave you feeling rushed. Tailor the approach to your brain.
Takeaway: Reduce the Time, Increase the Focus
Don’t block out full days for vague tasks. Be specific.
Shrink the time you give yourself. 60 minutes is often plenty.
Use a timer or calendar block to stay on track.
If you never get to something on your to-do list, make it smaller and shorter.
Your Freelance Challenge This Week
Think of one task you’ve been putting off because it “takes too long.”
Then give yourself half the time you think you need – and see what happens.
You might be surprised at how much quicker (and more focused) you become when time is tight.
Want more bite-sized tips like this one?
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