I recorded a podcast interview this week with Leslie Hassler, where we talked about how one can be more productive in less time.

Leslie works 30 hours a week in her business, but she can do it because she trained herself to make great use of her time.

It didn’t surprise me when I heard her story. I’ve come across plenty of entrepreneurs who can get more done in 30 or 35 hours a week than others can with 100 hours of “working”.

During the interview, I brought up a little-known law that applies to productivity, called …

“Parkinson’s Law”

The official (Wikipedia) definition of the law is: “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”

Ever notice how if you have a deadline, you can seemingly move at superhuman speed?

I know I do.

If I have a set deadline, and I block out distractions and focus on that priority, I amaze myself. But with no time limits, Parkinson’s Law kicks in and the task always takes longer.

In the last few weeks, I’ve been clamping down and enforcing more boundaries with my business. The results have been encouraging: less stress, more done, and the best month revenue-wise that I’ve ever had.

If you’re finding yourself getting run down, get tough with your schedule and reduce the hours that you’re “on the clock”. And give yourself some firm deadlines to complete those lingering tasks.

I don’t usually recommend shunning laws, but Parkinson’s Law is one that can be dangerous for your business,