A new study published in the Journal of Time Management has found that everything takes four times longer than you think it will. That’s right, whether you’re trying to finish a project at work, get ready for a night out, or simply make breakfast in the morning, you can expect to spend four times as much time on it as you originally planned.
The study surveyed over 1,000 people across various professions and age groups, asking them to estimate how long it would take them to complete a range of tasks. The results were shocking: on average, participants were off by a factor of four. For example, they thought it would take them 30 minutes to get ready in the morning, but it actually took them two hours.
“It took me 20 minutes to brush my teeth,” one participant said. “No way.”
“Somehow it took me 40 minutes to eat a bowl of cereal,” one participant said. “That’s super annoying because I actually have a lot to get done today- I can’t waste 40 minutes eating a bowl of cereal that should only take 10 minutes to eat. No wonder I’m not getting anything done.”
The study’s findings have implications for everything from personal productivity to project management. “If you’re planning a big project, you need to give yourself four times as much time as you think you’ll need,” said Dr. Smith. “Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for failure.”
Of course, some people are already taking the study’s findings in stride. “I’ve always known that everything takes longer than you think,” said graphic designer John Smith. “For example, that’s why I always give myself at least two hours to take a shit in the morning.”
“Who would’ve thought it would take 16 hours to assemble this stupid IKEA desk?” said Mike Andrews, one of the study participants. “I thought 4 hours would be more than enough, but then I opened the package and there were a million screws and parts.”
It’s time to face the truth – everything takes four times longer than you think.
