'I was struggling to get anything done. Then I learnt about "Parkinson's Law".'

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Have you ever noticed how if you're given a week to complete a task, like cleaning your house, you'll slowly drag it out over the entire week, but if you're given just one hour, you somehow manage to do the same job, if not better, in that tiny window of time?

Well, you're not lazy. You're just experiencing something called Parkinson's Law.

I recently stumbled across this concept on TikTok and felt very seen.

WATCH: The hosts of Well podcast discuss the three types of ADHD.

So, what is Parkinson's Law?

It's the idea that "work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion".

The term was first coined by historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson in a humorous essay he wrote for The Economist in 1955. In it, he tells a story about a woman whose only task for the entire day is to send a postcard. Something that would take a busy person about three minutes.

Instead, she spends an hour finding the card, another half an hour looking for her glasses, 90 minutes writing it, 20 minutes deciding whether she needs an umbrella for her walk to the mailbox, and so on, until her entire day is filled.

I know, uncomfortably relatable.

TikToker Ahmad Talks explained it perfectly in a video: "You will not accomplish any of those things this year, or even this month, if you've already convinced yourself you have your entire life to do them."

Basically, "time is the only currency you never get back". Just let that sink in.

"And the scary part is, we don't actually know what our entire life even means. You could pass away next year," the TikToker continued. "So we need to stop complicating things, stop procrastinating and start treating every single day like it matters, because it does."

Image: TikTok @itsahmadtalks.

Parkinson's Law also explains why we procrastinate. When we feel like we have plenty of time, we delay starting. We feel relieved in the moment, only to end up rushing, panicking or avoiding the task completely.

What it really proves is how much we complicate things, how much we procrastinate, and how capable we actually are when there's no other option.

But Parkinson's Law doesn't just apply to chores or work tasks because the scary part is that it applies to our entire lives.

How many dreams have you told yourself you will get to "one day"? Starting a side business? Learning a new hobby? Setting boundaries in a relationship? Going after that career you actually want?

So, how do you avoid falling into the Parkinson's Law trap?

In a recent episode of the But Are You Happy podcast, clinical psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis broke down some key strategies for moving past procrastination; and it all starts with momentum.

"The hardest part is starting, but it's the most important part because momentum and motivation comes once we start. If we wait for motivation to come, we'll probably be waiting a really long time. So we have to find ways to make the start feel as easy as possible," she said.

"Typically what we recommend is breaking the task down into its smallest components, and I would often recommend to find the easiest part to do first. Find the first step and make it as small and as easy as possible."

On time management, Dr Hronis mentioned the Pomodoro technique, a time-management method that breaks work into focused 25-minute intervals called "pomodoros," separated by five-minute breaks, with a longer (15-30 minute) break after four pomodoros.

She added, "It is effective, and I like it because it's prescriptive. And sometimes when we're struggling to find our own self motivation or self regulation, having a prescribed pathway can be useful to lean on."

Your environment is also important. Consider working in a space that is free from distractions, and avoid spaces that are associated with other things, like relaxing or sleeping. Dr Hronis said some people will find working in a cafe can be really effective for them, as it's a space away from their usual environment.

Finally, it's important to recognise and reflect on the emtions attached to procrastoination, and ask yourself 'what am I feeling' and 'why am I feeling this urge to procrastinate this task and put it off'.

Dr Hronis added, "If we can address and find those underlying feelings getting in the way of the procrastination, then we can work with those feelings and challenge some of those those emotions to take away a layer of a barrier to that procrastination."

You can listen to the full episode of But Are You Happy below.

Feature image: Canva.