Parkinson’s Law/Being “Busy”

I recently read this post by blogger Kae, and I felt like she finally put words to something that I’ve been feeling for a very long time.

She writes about “Parkinson’s’ Law”, which says:

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

Basically, if I have an hour to complete a task- say doing the laundry- it will take me an hour to do it. If I have a week to do that same task, it will take a week to do it.

I have always known this to be true somewhere in the back of mind. It’s the reason why everyone says they are busy. I often scratch my head at this. How is an empty nester couple as busy as I am, running 4 kids around everywhere and doing copious amounts of laundry and cooking and packing lunches and alllll the tasks that come with having children? And how can I be busy compared to someone who has 8 kids and homeschools and works a full time job? How are we all busy, even though we all have various amount of responsibilities that don’t necessarily match up?

I’ve found this to be so true in my life this year. For the first time in 8 years, I am not working this year. For the last 8 years, I worked about 20 hours a week. So, arguably, I have 20 extra hours of time every single week this year. In my mind, 20 hours of time meant my house would be clean, all the laundry would be done, I would be rested and relaxed, and easily have a home cooked meal on the table every single night.

Does anyone think that has actually happened? No. No, it has not. But how is this possible?!?

Ok, well, first- I am volunteering for like 4 different things, and that has added 10 or so hours into my days that I wasn’t doing before. But still! I don’t understand how this is possible. But somehow Parkinson’s law seems to explain it perfectly. Last year, let’s just say I was working outside of the home and gone for 50 hours a week. I somehow still managed to do laundry, keep up the housework, get kids homeschool done, get everyone where they needed to be, and do my job.

This year, I may be gone outside the house 10 hours a week. But all those same tasks have expanded to fill the extra time that I have. It’s wild! I look at my current schedule and responsibilities and wonder how in the world I also worked on top of all this. But you know what? I just did. It just …. all fit.

This is the same concept as someone who has x number of kids and thinks “I could never add any more kids to this current state of busy!” and then a positive pregnancy test comes along, followed by a whole ‘nother human being to take care of…and somehow…it just…works. Sure, it might be crazier and a little more wild. But somehow it works.

Anyways- I thought that this was such an interesting topic that I wanted to write a little post about it. I think it has really helped me with a perspective shift about being a working Mom. I really thought that several of my problems would be solved by no longer working. And, yes- it has been wonderful. I am more clear-headed and less generally stressed/overwhelmed. I’m able to prioritize my family in a way that I couldn’t do without feeling guilt for un-prioritizing my job.

But I’m still busy. My schedule is still very full. And when I go back to teaching, I now know with confidence that it will just all fit. Somehow.

Oh, that reminds me…I am actually going back to teaching later this month as I cover a long term substitute position! I’m….excited. It will be good to be back in the classroom, but it feels like I get to be a “grandparent” equivalent of a teacher. You know…take care of them, have fun…and then hand them back to the real teacher while I go nap for a week 😉

Anyways- what do you think of this topic? Do you have any thoughts to add? Do you think that you are busy, and then wonder how you can think that when someone else is clearly doing way more than you? Do you think that it’s healthy to be so busy? Do you think that personality/life circumstances need more credit that just this random law that I’m spouting about? Did you read Kae’s post and have any additional thoughts on it?

SO many questions- I’d love to hear your thoughts!