The task you’ve been putting off for a month took two minutes. Instead of doing it when it occurred to you, you let it simmer and grow into this big, intimidating monster. When you finally forced yourself to do it, it still only took two minutes and really wasn’t that serious.
What is the 2-minute rule?
The 2-minute rule is a principle from David Allen’s workflow method called Getting Things Done (GTD). The basic tenant is that if you are presented with a task that can be finished in two minutes or less, you should do it immediately.
How to use the 2-minute rule
To employ the 2-minute rule, simply see to tasks immediately if you know it will take under two minutes. Letting the dog outside, wiping out the microwave, hanging up a towel, sending a follow-up text, dropping a letter in the post. Do it now so it doesn’t take up space in your head for no reason.
There are some cases where the 2-minute principle might do more harm than good, and we’ll go over those cases below.
The Benefits of Using the 2-Minute Rule
Here are some of the positives of practicing the 2-minute rule.
1. Reduced cognitive load
Off-loading those smaller tasks immediately gives you more brain space. For everything you need to remember, your mind is a little heavier, so avoiding the pile-up can keep your mental faculties running smoother.
2. Instant gratification
Finishing those little tasks can give you an immediate sense of accomplishment, which can motivate you throughout the day.
3. Momentum
Similarly, when we achieve those easier accomplishments, it can get the ball rolling for an even more productive day. Not only does it get you in the headspace for getting things done, but it also clears your plate to focus on bigger tasks.
4. Avoiding task accumulation
We all want inbox 0. It’s hard to achieve, but dealing with emails regularly, or even as they appear, is the only way to do it. Tiny tasks are similar. They stack up, so the longer you wait, the more intimidating the pile becomes.
Image an ant crawling across your desk right now. He’s small and cute. Tell him hello. Now imagine he brings five thousand of his friends. Abruptly un-cute and maybe terrifying. Don’t let your little task become a colony.
5. Blocking perfectionism
Ripping the Bandaid and taking care of little things quickly helps us to avoid a perfectionist mindset. The longer we put off a task, the longer we have to think about it, to project our doubts onto it, to see all the problems and weaknesses around dealing with it. Doing it fast takes away the fretting time, and the fretting time is so rarely helpful.
The 2-minute principle is one small change you can implement in your day to reduce your cognitive load, stress, and hesitancy.
Exceptions for the 2-Minute Rule
The 2-minute rule isn’t perfect for every situation. Here are a few exceptions to consider.
1. Interrupting deep focus task
If you’re in the middle of getting good work done, hopping off of it to do your two-minute thing probably isn’t a good use of your time. In this instance, have a way of keeping notes while you work, and jot it down there.
2. Urgency
Sometimes we’re doing something important–a work project, spending time with our kids, starting to file our taxes on April 14th–and stopping in the middle of it to swap your laundry from the washer to the dryer might not make a ton of sense.
3. Accumulation
A two-minute task is no big, but if you have a dozen two-minute tasks in a row, that’s a little different. If you’re thinking of thing after thing after thing to do, you have to break that train, because you’re no longer operating under the 2-minute rule parameters. You’re just ping-ponging (and probably procrastinating a bigger task).
4. Energy levels
If you’re low on energy, physically or emotionally unprepared, or in a state not conducive to handling certain types of tasks, it might be better to wait on it. But don’t forget to write it down!
The 2-minute rule is a great strategy to implement in general, but make sure it’s reasonable in the context of the moment.
Tips for using the 2-Minute Rule
Let’s look at ways we can use the 2-minute rule without incurring the costs listed above.
1. Don’t hesitate
Be quick with it! As soon as a task comes up, evaluate if it can be done in two minutes. If yes, do it right away (or write it down).
2. Batch similar tasks
When making your list of tiny tasks (if they occur to you while in deep focus mode), you might try batching them. For example, if you’re getting up for a water break at your home office–while you’re in the kitchen, you might fill the humidifier, take the chicken out to thaw for dinner, and pick up the dishes in the drying rack. Maybe you have little tasks all over the house, but it would take significantly longer to bop around doing all of them, so it makes more sense to do the local ones that are along your route.
3. Prioritize
If a task is genuinely quick and easy, meaning you can do it without disrupting your current activity or headspace, use the 2-minute rule. If you have to spend a lot of time deciding if the task falls within the 2-minute parameters, if it will take you far out of your way, or if it will throw off your workflow, write it down instead.
4. Set boundaries
Don’t let the 2-minute rule disrupt your work or something you find important to focus on. You can always write it down to see to after you’ve wrapped up the current activity.
5. Consider email management
Using the 2-minute rule for email management might be one of the most helpful ways to use it. If you receive an email that you can deal with in under two minutes, do it. Respond, file, or delete it right away to keep your inbox manageable.
6. Keep a task list
Like we’ve mentioned a few times, a task list is helpful when applying this principle. Writing the task down gives you the same benefits of not having to hold headspace for it, not forgetting about it, and still getting it done efficiently, without interrupting your flow.
7. Make it a routine
You might consider making this a routine. Every evening, I spend two minutes in each room of my house quickly attending to any chores I’ve left from the day. Straightening up, folding blankets, returning a watered plant to its shelf, finishing up the few dishes in my sink. Similarly, you can have a twenty-minute routine in the morning or evening where you sprint through all of your tiny tasks. That way you’re not interrupting your day, but you’re seeing to them promptly.
Key Takeaways
The 2-minute principle means attending to any task you can do in under two minutes as soon as it occurs to you.
Keep a list of tasks instead of interrupting deep work or important activities.
Consider working the 2-minute rule into your routine by setting a regular time to execute all of your tasks at once.
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