I was never really good at planning. You know, that thing all time-management and productivity gurus say is important. And they are right, but…
Every time I tried to create order in my never-ending list of tasks, duties, projects, laundry etc., I felt like I was trying to herd cats.
Chaos, frustration, hissing. And only one predictable outcome: scars.
And then, I read about the 2-Minute Rule.
I tried it.
I hacked it.
And now I can finally plan my chill moments…
The 2-Minute rule explained in 20 seconds
The 2-Minute Rule is as straightforward as it sounds. If a task takes two minutes or less to complete, do it immediately. It’s a productivity hack designed to help you make quicker decisions and act on them without procrastination.
The 2 Minute rule is like cleaning up small bits of clutter before tackling a more significant mess
In theory, the process goes like this…
How to apply the 2-Minute Rule (in theory)?
You don’t need to be a rocket engineer to put this productivity hack into practice.
Step 1: Take, or make, a to-do list
Identify tasks you can complete in two minutes or less. These could include sending a quick email, filing a piece of paperwork, or even tidying up your workspace.
Step 2: Set a timer
Challenge yourself to not waste more than 120 seconds on a task. See your timer as a coach, yelling from the sidelines.
Step 3: Do, don’t think
The moment your timer starts, do it.
Step 4: Smile
This happens automatically because your brain gets a dopamine shot if you complete a task.
Those steps felt familiar. And I got cautious.
Very cautious…
My initial doubts about the 2 Minute Rule
120 seconds.
That sounded doable. And not too long to mess up my plans for a relaxed afternoon.
Hang on.
In my introduction, I said I sucked at making plans. And now, I mentioned I had planned a laid-back afternoon.
The thing is, I alternated between laziness and procrastination for way too long.
Where was I?
Ah.
The 2 Minute Rule reminded me of the times I had to fine-tune the Do It Now productivity method to not end up in total panic.
The 2 Minute rule can be helpful to tackle tiny tasks, like:
- Clearing off a small section of your desk
- Filing a single document
- Watering your plant
- Refilling your coffee mug (because, caffeine)
But the 120 seconds hack had the same mouthwatering effect on me as a chilli taco bowl.
And that meant one thing.
I had to take a bite from the Two Minute Rule. And dip it in a bath of spicy sauce to let its real magic kick in.
Because, let’s be honest.
We are living in…
The expanding universe of distractions
My best guess is that I am not the only person in the universe that gets messages out of nowhere.
All of them shouting for my urgent attention.
My cat. Five email inboxes. Telegram. WhatsApp. Viber. Slack. My bank app. Facebook. YouTube…
They are were constantly fighting for my attention. I learned to keep them under control.
Challenging, but creating a to don’t list helped a lot.
The 2 Minute rule is great to prioritize my fun moments the I-have-to-absolutely-finish-these-things-that-could-get-me-into-a-rollercoaster-of-serious-troubles-and-whatnot
Instead of setting a 2-minute timer to finish tasks, I set it to make plans in record time.
From overthinking to lightning-fast deciding
If external factors don’t distract me, my brain will.
It makes jolly jumps from here to there, desperately trying to connect all the dots, causes, consequences. Even if they don’t exist.
By the time my brain stops thinking, I feel like a kid in a toy shop.
Too many options and…
- wanting it all
- knowing I have to make a choice
- fearing I will make the wrong choice
- feeling bad
This phenomenon has a name: decision fatigue.
Adults suffer from it too.
Let me give an example.
Since 2007, I wanted to visit an escape room. One day.
In 2024, I did it with the Lazy Girl.
17 years. That’s a long time of thinking, don’t you think?
The thing is, there was never time for it. It looked impossible to free up one hour.
To visit an escape room.
That’s crazy.
But at the beginning of 2024, we sat together and thought of making a mini bucket list.
In less than 2 minutes, we had come up with an activity for the first three months.
And we did and enjoyed all of them. To the fullest.
But what about working?
There, I apply it too.
10 second conclusion: is the 2-Minute rule any good?
The 2-Minute Rule is a simple mind hack with one clear mission: get an empty to-do list.
Or at least, diminish it drastically. And it works.
But if you follow it blindly, you no longer see the bigger picture. Or goals, as productivity gurus call it.
Again, they are right. But that is for another article, that will deserve a place in our overview of quick strategies to get stuff done.
