August 26th, 2025

Ever feel like you’re drowning in your own potential? Like you know what you’re capable of, but somehow can’t seem to harness it consistently?

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You’re not alone. During consultations, time management + focus are the second biggest struggle folks share (right after “I have too many ideas”). And here’s what I keep hearing:

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“I have so much going on, and I’m not even sure I’m focusing on the right thing…”

“I keep saying I’ll work on my business when I have ‘more time’ but that time never comes…”

“I see my potential and know I need to put in the time and focus, but I can’t seem to maintain it on my own.”

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If you’re nodding along, this two-part series is for you.

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Today, we’re tackling Parkinson’s Law and time constraints.

Next week: MVP thinking and beating perfectionism. Two sides of the same coin that will help you move from stuck to shipped.

The Eye Opener: Parkinson’s Law

“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”​
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Translation? Give yourself all day to write an email, and it’ll take all day. Give yourself 15 focused minutes? You’ll be amazed at what you accomplish.
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But here’s where most people get stuck – they believe these 3 myths about constraints that keep them spinning their wheels:

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MYTH #1: “Constraints kill creativity”

TRUTH: Constraints spark creativity. Think Twitter’s original 140-character limit – it forced people to become masters of concise, punchy communication. In your business, a 30-minute deadline forces you to cut straight to the core message instead of overthinking every word.

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MYTH #2: “Constraints make work feel harder”

TRUTH: Constraints make things easier. With 25 minutes on the clock, overthinking stops and doing begins. Decisions become faster because there’s no time to spin.

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MYTH #3: “Constraints mean less freedom”

TRUTH: Constraints create freedom. When you decide, “I’m done when this timer goes off,” you’ve built boundaries that protect your energy and create space for what matters.

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5 Ways I Use my Timer to Harness Time Constraints

Here’s how I’ve been using my trusty timer to beat procrastination (and how you can too):

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Quick Wins Between Calls

Got 12 minutes before your next meeting? Perfect for knocking out that quick task.

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The 50% Rule

Set your timer and aim to hit the halfway point by half-time.

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Gamify the Tedious

Race against the clock to make boring tasks fun.

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Email Lightning Round

Speed up composing, editing, and decision-making.

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Deep Work Alerts

Get focused reminders when time’s almost up.

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These simple constraints create urgency, focus, and progress. They shrink the space where procrastination usually creeps in.

Exercise: “Beat the Clock” Challenge

This week, I dare you to work with time limits instead of against them:

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Step 1: Grab any timer (phone, kitchen timer, whatever you have).

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Step 2: Pick one task you’ve been avoiding.

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Step 3: Set the timer for a realistic chunk of time (15-45 minutes).

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Step 4: Work until it goes off – then STOP.

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Step 5: Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, and notice how much sharper your focus becomes as you practice this tactic.

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Remember: the goal isn’t perfection – it’s progress. Even if you only try this once this week, you’re building the muscle that will transform how you approach every task moving forward.
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Coming Next Week: Part 2 of this series reveals how MVP thinking helps you stop overbuilding, start shipping, and create unstoppable momentum. (Hint: it’s the perfect partner to today’s time constraint strategy!)

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Talk soon,

Moriah

P.S. What’s ONE task you’re going to “timer test” this week? 

P.P.S. Check out the full LinkedIn post here that inspired this deeper dive into working with constraints to spark creativity, make things easier, and give you back your freedom.