The two minute rule.

The two-minute rule is a powerful principle for enhancing productivity and building new habits. It is based on two different but complementary ideas from popular productivity authors.

  From Getting Things Done (David Allen): If a task can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it immediately rather than deferring it. The reasoning is that the time and energy spent adding the task to a to-do list is more than the time it would take to simply complete it. This is best for small, actionable items that pop up, like replying to a short email or putting a dish in the dishwasher.

 

 From Atomic Habits (James Clear): When you are starting a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do. 

The goal is to make the habit so easy to begin that you can't say no. This helps you build the initial momentum and consistency needed for a new behavior to stick.

 Examples include "read one page" instead of "read a chapter" or "put on your running shoes" instead of "run three miles."

Both applications of the rule are designed to overcome procrastination by lowering the barrier to entry, whether for a quick chore or a long-term goal.

What area of your life would you like to apply the two-minute rule to? (e.g., work, personal finance, health, etc.)