How Deadlines (Even Artificial Ones) Trick Your Brain into Focusing

Parkinson's Law

Parkinson's Law is the old adage that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." If you give yourself a week to complete a task, it will take a week. If you give yourself an hour, you'll often find a way to get it done in an hour.

The Power of Artificial Deadlines

You can use this psychological principle to your advantage by setting artificial deadlines. A timer is the perfect tool for this. By setting a timer for a task, you create a sense of urgency that forces your brain to focus on what's most important.

This is the principle behind techniques like the Pomodoro Technique and Timeboxing. They use the power of deadlines to help you get more done in less time.