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Carve out time for two-minute tasks
We can carve out blocks where we can put the two-minute rule to use.
One of the best times to use the two-minute rule is during periods of structured procrastination. During this time, you’re procrastinating on one thing, but focusing on slightly less important tasks.
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The con of the 2 minute rule
There's a time and a place to implement the 2 minute rule. Quickly popping into our inbox to respond to an email is a distraction when we’re meant to be preparing for an upcoming presentation.
Hard and complex work often requires longer stretches of time. These periods of time should be blo...
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The advantages of the 2 minute rule
- With the 2 minute rule, there's no complex workflow, 4x4 grid, or inbox to input your tasks. It's simple and straightforward: Do the quick task quickly.
- Instead of adding a task to a list and finding time in the near or distant future to complete it, ac...
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“If an action will take less than two minutes, it should be done at the moment it’s defined.”
DAVID ALLEN
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Completing quick tasks
What could be a quick task we complete right way becomes a point of procrastination. A tiny to do can take on a life of its own in our minds.
The longer you put something off, the harder it feels to accomplish it. To avoid this phenomenon, tackle tasks ...
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Starting a big task
You can break down any big task or large project into quick bites that allow you to get started, sustain momentum, and complete an overwhelming task two minutes at a time.
The next time you feel the pull to procrastinate, identify something you can do in just two minutes to get st...
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“That said, you shouldn’t become a slave to spending your day doing two-minute actions. This rule should be applied primarily when you are engaging with new input; for example, processing your in-tray, interacting with someone in your office or home, or simply dealing with some random int...
DAVID ALLEN
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Avoid context-switching
The two-minute rule has one risk: context switching. We can fall into the trap of completing two-minute tasks when we should be prioritising deep focus.
- Block off time for focused work. Demanding and complex work often needs a long period of intense ...
Two ways to apply the two-minute rule
- Completing quick tasks. Often, the little tasks like needing to book a doctor's appointment or sending an email can fill our minds and haunt us. The longer we put something off, the harder it seems to do.
- Starting a big task. We often avoid ambitio...
The two minute rule
The two minute rule states, "When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do".
The idea is to make your habits as easy as possible to start.
A new habit should not feel like a challenge. The actions that you follow can be challenging, but the f...
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