One of the most practical tips that can help you be productive is learning how to utilize the two minute rule. The two-minute rule was created by David Allen, an author and productivity consultant. The two-minute rule states:
“If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.”
David Allen
The two minute rule can be applied to a lot of interesting topics:
- Learning how to stop procrastination
- Overcoming obstacles to motivate yourself every day
- Healthy Habit Formation
How the Two Minute Rule Increases productivity
The single greatest way to increase your productivity is to work on your one priority task for the day.
Learn about the one question you should ask yourself every morning here!
Aside from that priority task, the whole day is broken into other objectives. By following the two-minute rule, you can significantly reduce thinking about which tasks you have to accomplish for the day.
Look at your current to-do list. What takes less than two minutes to do? Chances are, writing it down and debating the task takes more time than the actual task will take.
Using the two minute rule helps you quickly respond to emails, reduce clutter around your house, and do the quick tasks that often clutter up your headspace or do to list.
Photo by Agê Barros on Unsplash
The Benefits of the Two minute rule for Productivity
Reduces clutter both physically and mentally: As stated above, once a task is done, or space is clear, the loop is closed on your objective. Your brain can free-up from having to think about it. Clearing clutter gives you more energy to work on other tasks.
Limits the To-Do list: once you train yourself to work this effectively, the task will never have to go on your to-do list. Saving the ink will limit your to-do list from becoming an anxiety-filled, mile long list. When you look at your to-do list, you will now only see high priority and high-value tasks that you can dedicate more time to.
Learn a more effective way to make your to-do list here!
It saves time: because everyone procrastinates differently, we often spend more time thinking about the task while procrastinating than actually getting it done. How many times have you pushed scheduling a doctor’s appointment, only for it to sit on your list for weeks instead of making that 2-minute call? By just doing the task at the moment, you save all the time debating when the best time to call is.
Builds momentum: By getting several small tasks done, it makes you feel productive. That puts you on a roll where you want it to keep going. You can use this momentum to build into your higher priority tasks.
How to use the Two minute rule to build new habits
Building new habits is challenging, but it can change your life for the better. Here is how to use the two minute rule to upgrade developing your habits.
Make the habit as easy as possible to start. Making the habit easy will lead you down a more productive path.
Reading before bed each night becomes read one page before bed each night, study for class becomes open my notes, and run three miles becomes tie my running shoes.
Breaking up goals might seem silly but it plays on the momentum discussed earlier and human psychology. Studies show that humans like tasks with a low barrier to entries that we perceive as easy.
By breaking the tasks into its smallest steps, big goals like running three miles become something easier. Put on shoes, go out the door, warm-up walk, run for a minute, etc until before you know it – you ran three miles.
Making Automatic Habits
Interestingly as you train yourself to see tasks this way, the smaller tasks become automatic habits. Running becomes more automatic. It stops being putting on shoes and going out the door. It melds in your brain as “go for a run”. Then bam, it’s a habit. It has become part of the identity you are building for yourself and you see yourself having success.
Building small leads to a higher probability of sticking with a task, making it work, and following through with doing the work each day.
Main Take-Aways
- Using the two-minute rule can help you be more productive and build new habits.
- Start small and see clutter disappear and your new identity starts to form.
Action Item
Practice the two-minute rule for 5 days in a row. How much success did you have?
