Ever sat down to “polish a draft” and looked up an hour later still polishing? That’s Parkinson’s Law: work expands to fill the time available for its completion. The trick isn’t more willpower—it’s smaller, smarter constraints that keep the task from growing.
What Parkinson’s Law really means
When a task has vague scope and plenty of time, your brain turns “send the email” into “perfect the message, find the ideal phrasing, re-check attachments, maybe redesign the deck.” Time makes room; the work grows to fill it.
Why tasks silently bloat
- No clear finish line: “Make it better” has no end.
- Open-ended time: with a free morning, “quick” becomes sprawling.
- Perfection drift: quality targets creep upwards without benefit.
- Too big a canvas: ten tools and five tabs invite detours.
The 3C antidote: Clock, Canvas, Criteria
Use these three constraints together. No software needed.
1. Clock: short, visible time box
Set a 25–30 minute block (or 15 if you’re tired). When the clock ends, you stop, decide next step, and either ship or schedule a small follow-up.
Why it works: urgency trims the fluff and forces choices.
Example: “Draft the email outline in 25 minutes. Send if solid; otherwise schedule 15 minutes at 2 pm to refine.”
2. Canvas: shrink the surface area
Give the task less space. One page. Three bullets. A single slide.
Why it works: a smaller canvas prevents wandering.
[Suggested Image: A single A5 dotted page titled “Brief: 200 words max”.]
3. Criteria: define “done” before you start
Write three conditions that, if met, you’ll call it done.
Why it works: a finish line stops perfection drift.
Example: “Done when: (1) decision is clear, (2) numbers match source, (3) tone is polite and concise.”
A one-week experiment (no apps)
- Day 1–2: Pick one task each morning. Apply Clock (25m) + Canvas (one page) + Criteria (three points).
- Day 3–4: Add a 2-minute start action (write the first sentence, list three bullets, or dial the number).
- Day 5: Review: Which criteria felt strict enough? Where did time spill? Adjust your 3C for next week.
Optional picks (cards, not tutorials)
- Analog Timer — Begin without thinking about it
Best for: 25–30 minute focus blocks
Why we like it: tactile, glanceable, zero setup
Keep in mind: choose a quiet tick in shared spaces
Price note: $ - A5 Dotted Notebook — One page = smaller canvas
Best for: briefs, three-bullet outlines
Why we like it: flexible grid, folds flat
Keep in mind: snap a photo if you need backup
Price note: $ - Index Cards — Single decision per card
Best for: defining “done” criteria
Why we like it: forces brevity; easy to reorder
Keep in mind: discard daily to avoid clutter
Price note: $
Common pitfalls (and quick fixes)
- Time box without a finish line: add Criteria or you’ll just watch the clock.
- Oversized canvas: if you open five tabs, your task will expand; return to one page.
- Perfection loop: when your three Criteria are met, ship. Add improvements later.
Conclusion (CTA)
Try the 3C method tomorrow morning on one task that usually sprawls. Set a short Clock, shrink the Canvas, and write three Criteria before you start. If you finish faster with equal quality, keep it for a week and adjust the dials to your style.
