I have found this really useful - doing what I really want to do first rather than as a reward at the end of completing a task. It certainly seems to help contain the task into the allotted time (or a little bit more!) Thanks again, Really enjoying your emails
So glad it helped! Took me a long time to figure that one out. I wonder whether it's yet another example of the Protestant work ethic (though I don't think it's confined to historically Protestant societies), this sense of duty first to do the chores. I'm pretty sure that, much of the time, it's more effective first to rest.
I have definitely found this in my work life. Once my last patient is out the door, suddenly I feel all the weight of time pressure is off - and I slow right down. Wrap-up tasks that should have taken me 10-15 mins take me at least half an hour (resulting in me being late home) because for some reason once I'm on my own time rather than paid time, I feel less guilty about slacking off. Days of big blocks of open time for study also seem to be less productive than I would have expected. And like Katie's comment, this also seems to apply to luggage space! Thanks for this article, I shall be a bit more intentional with how I use my time and put boundaries on tasks :)
I think it's partly about putting real boundaries on tasks. But even more important is inserting into our days the things that are essential for our serenity and success—by which I primarily mean rest, a topic I'm going to be returning to in future emails.
There are only so many hours in a day. If you prioritise those things that are most vital, but that we neglect—rest, looking after our sleep, physical activity, spending time with people who are important to us—then you are effectively putting a boundary on the things that need to be Parkinsoned down to size.
How very true and now I have a name for this truism: Parkinson’s law. Just like my luggage I am travelling with currently has expanded to fill my rucksack ( and a little bit more!). If I had travelled with a smaller bag I would have had less unnecessary luggage to carry but the greater anxiety I might be missing something I might need!
It's funny you make this point — in an earlier draft of the book I made exactly this point, that Parkinson's law applies not just to time but to other things — like packing luggage! I hope you're enjoying your travels.
Hi Adam
I have found this really useful - doing what I really want to do first rather than as a reward at the end of completing a task. It certainly seems to help contain the task into the allotted time (or a little bit more!) Thanks again, Really enjoying your emails
So glad it helped! Took me a long time to figure that one out. I wonder whether it's yet another example of the Protestant work ethic (though I don't think it's confined to historically Protestant societies), this sense of duty first to do the chores. I'm pretty sure that, much of the time, it's more effective first to rest.
I have definitely found this in my work life. Once my last patient is out the door, suddenly I feel all the weight of time pressure is off - and I slow right down. Wrap-up tasks that should have taken me 10-15 mins take me at least half an hour (resulting in me being late home) because for some reason once I'm on my own time rather than paid time, I feel less guilty about slacking off. Days of big blocks of open time for study also seem to be less productive than I would have expected. And like Katie's comment, this also seems to apply to luggage space! Thanks for this article, I shall be a bit more intentional with how I use my time and put boundaries on tasks :)
That's exactly my experience, too!
I think it's partly about putting real boundaries on tasks. But even more important is inserting into our days the things that are essential for our serenity and success—by which I primarily mean rest, a topic I'm going to be returning to in future emails.
There are only so many hours in a day. If you prioritise those things that are most vital, but that we neglect—rest, looking after our sleep, physical activity, spending time with people who are important to us—then you are effectively putting a boundary on the things that need to be Parkinsoned down to size.
How very true and now I have a name for this truism: Parkinson’s law. Just like my luggage I am travelling with currently has expanded to fill my rucksack ( and a little bit more!). If I had travelled with a smaller bag I would have had less unnecessary luggage to carry but the greater anxiety I might be missing something I might need!
It's funny you make this point — in an earlier draft of the book I made exactly this point, that Parkinson's law applies not just to time but to other things — like packing luggage! I hope you're enjoying your travels.