The volume of paper expands to fill the available briefcases.
The quote “The volume of paper expands to fill the available briefcases” suggests that the amount of work or information generated tends to increase to match the available resources or time allocated for it. This reflects a broader phenomenon known as Parkinson’s Law, which states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. Essentially, if you have more space, time, or resources, you’ll likely use all of it—even if you don’t need to.
From a practical perspective, this idea highlights how we often create excess when we have room for it. For instance, in a workplace with abundant storage and flexible deadlines, employees may find themselves producing more reports or documents than necessary simply because they can. This expansion can lead to inefficiency and wasted effort.
In today’s world—where digital tools enable vast amounts of information sharing and collaboration—the concept is especially relevant. With cloud storage options that seem limitless and project deadlines that can be extended indefinitely through negotiation or re-prioritization, individuals and teams might succumb to producing more content without necessarily improving quality or productivity.
In terms of personal development, this idea invites reflection on how we manage our own time and energy. If one sets aside too much free time for tasks (like learning new skills), it’s easy to procrastinate until just before a deadline—or even overcommit by trying to learn multiple things at once because there seems like ample opportunity. Conversely, imposing stricter limits on oneself (e.g., allocating specific times for study) may foster greater focus and efficiency.
Applying this concept means recognizing our tendencies toward expansion based on perceived availability—whether that’s in paperwork at work or personal projects—and actively managing our resources better by setting boundaries. By doing so—in both professional and personal arenas—we can achieve clearer objectives with less clutter in both our minds and environments: creating an atmosphere where quality supersedes quantity becomes not only possible but essential for meaningful progress.
