Procrastination is something we’re all too familiar with. It’s the act of intentionally putting off a task that needs to be done. Whether it’s a personal task or a work related one, there are many factors that can play a role in why we choose to procrastinate.
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One of the most effective habits that I’ve adopted for procrastination is called the 2-Minute Rule. If you’re a fan of self-development books, then chances are you’re familiar with this rule too. This simple yet effective strategy was first introduced by author David Allen in his book, Getting Things Done. You may have also heard about this rule in James Clear’s #1 New York Times best seller, Atomic Habits.
David Allen’s Method
How many times have you let a simple task turn into a bigger one? For example, coming home to a pile of clothes on the floor or trying to find something a cluttered drawer? Allen states that if a task can be completed within 2 minutes, then take action now and don’t delay.
Instead of throwing your coat on the floor when you come home, take 2 minutes to properly hang it in your closet. Instead of hanging onto junk mail and throwing it in your drawer, take 2 minutes to recycle or throw it away. These small but impactful habits can help you accomplish more in the long run and you spend less time having to deal with it later.
James Clear’s Method
Clear’s method of the 2-Minute Rule applies to starting new habits. How many times have you thought about reading, journaling, or decluttering but procrastinated because the idea seemed hard? Reading 1 book a month, journaling a page per day, or decluttering your house can be daunting because we’re so consumed by the end goal. Clear recommends a “gateway habit” which allows you to embark on your goals in a more productive and natural manner.
With the 2-Minute Rule, you would start by reading for 2 minutes, journaling for 2 minutes, and declutter for 2 minutes. After the 2 minutes have passed, you’ll realized that you’ve done the most important thing, which is getting started. Starting for 2 minutes is better than not starting at all. After several practices, you’ll start to see a change and even begin calling these new habits a routine.
The Purpose of the 2-Minute Rule
All our great successes in life start with one step. The purpose of the 2-Minute Rule is to help you get started and stay organized. This rule for procrastination is a great reminder to stop focusing on the end goal and focus on taking baby steps and celebrating our wins along the way. In no time, you’ll find yourself becoming more productive and motivated to start new habits with ease.
How do you deal with procrastination? What do you think about the 2-Minute Rule? Is it something you’d like to apply in 2023? I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you haven’t already, be sure to order your copy of Getting Things Done by David Allen and Atomic Habits by James Clear today. For more posts relating to productivity, visit my tag here.
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This is a great rule and so good to remember when faced with task that won’t take long. I’m definitely going to start trying it.
It’s a great tool that helps you get started on any task. Good luck Lisa! Thank you for reading!
This is such a clever idea, will give it a go!
I’m glad to hear that! Good luck on your goal setting. Thank you for reading Laila!
I totally agree. Starting, even if for just 2 minutes, really is better than not starting at all. The 2 minute rule is such a great way to approach both simple and challenging tasks. Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely! It’s an easy habit that motivates you to tackle bigger tasks as you go. Thank you for reading Heidi!
I’ve heard a lot of people talking about the 2 minute rule lately- it definitely makes a massive difference to productivity!
Kathleen / http://www.madeinthe1990s.com
It truly does! Thank you for reading Kathleen!
I have heard of this before and it does make sense to get those small tasks out the way. I am trying to be more productive this year and not snooze certain tasks for later or another day. I have Atomic Habits it is on my to be read small pile for this year. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
That’s great Lauren! I hope you enjoy the book, it’s filled with great tips. Thanks for reading!
I’ll definitely have to give this a go! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for reading Nikki! I hope it’s helpful!
I’ll be honest, I’m not a procrastinator by nature. I like to just get things done, so I really like the sound of the 2 minute rule!
That’s great Jenny! The 2-Minute Rule is an effective method that pushes you to get started. Thanks for reading!
I have always been a procrastinator. My 7th grade history teacher gave me an award for “best procrastinator”! So this information is great as I am still, all these years later a pretty darned good procrastinator!
Hahaha that’s hilarious! This method is super effective for procrastinating and I hope it helps. Thank you for reading Wendy!
I needed this post! 😂 Really interesting concept
Haha I hope it helps with your productivity! Thank you for reading Sarah!
I like do the first method with dishes too. Don’t let them pile up and then make it a bigger one. Great one!
Dishes are a great example! They pile up so quickly. Thank you for reading Fransic!
I really like the concept of the two-minute rule. I might try this technique to help me get back into reading as it’s something I used to love to do but have not done for ages x
It would be a great technique to help you get back into reading. Good luck! Thank you for reading Lucy!
This works well for little things to do around the house. Especially things like putting the dishes away, putting clothes away, etc.
Yes, it’s a great way to stay organized and motivates you to get things done. Thank you for reading!
This is an important post. I read Atomic Habits by James Clear last year, and I learned a lot.
I’m glad to hear that! It was a great book filled with so much practical information. Thank you for reading Ezioma!
The two-minute rule is new to us. It’s a great idea to accomplish small things this way.
Agreed, it’s also a great gateway habit towards achieving bigger goals in the long run! Thank you for reading!
I love this idea! It’s the sense of accomplishment you feel after completing the task that often gets me going right after onto the next thing. Thanks for sharing about this!
Exactly, when we celebrate our small wins it gives us motivation to move on to bigger tasks. Thank you for reading Jodie!
I agree that after two minutes, you are into the task and it feels more doable, much like going to the gym – which I find tricky to do.
The gym is a perfect example! By spending two minutes even just packing a gym bag, we’re more inclined to follow through. Thank you for reading Jamie!
This is very useful. Two minutes makes the task bite size and oh so manageable. Easy to implement.
Yes! This method helps us focus on baby steps rather than the end goal, which can be overwhelming. Thank you for reading!