Parkinson's Law

How Resources Create Their Own Demand

"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."

— C. Northcote Parkinson

Think about your last project deadline. Did it mysteriously expand to consume every last minute available?

That's Parkinson's Law in action—a principle that reveals how we manage (or waste) our time and resources.

This dynamic extends far beyond deadlines, infiltrating nearly every aspect of life. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

It’s everywhere:

• Storage: More phone space = more useless photos

• Systems: More bureaucrats = more paperwork

• Meetings: Longer slots = more pointless talk

• Money: Higher income = higher spending

• Space: Bigger house = more clutter

The rule is simple: available resources create their own demand.

This explains why constraints breed creativity:

• Less Money: Reduce and prioritize.

• Less Space: Organize better and declutter.

• Less Time: Find faster, smarter ways to work.

• Fewer Resources: Think differently and create more with less.

The key isn't having more—it's boxing in the expansion.

Set artificial constraints. Create false deadlines. Limit available resources.

Remember: Resources tend to be consumed not by necessity, but by availability.

Before your next project, ask: "What's the minimum this truly needs?"

Often, the constraint is the solution.

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