Stop Procrastinating with the "Two-Minute Rule"
3 February 2014
Read by 2262 persons
I recently followed a simple rule to help me stop procrastinating while maintaining good habits.
I want to share this technique with you so you can try it and see how effective it is.
What's great? It's a very simple strategy. Here's what you need to know:
How to stop procrastinating with the "two-minute rule"?
The goal of what I call the "two-minute rule" is to make it easier to do what you have to do.
Here's the thing: You usually postpone tasks that are not complicated to accomplish. You have the skills to carry out these tasks, but you avoid tackling them for one reason or another.
The two-minute rule helps overcome procrastination and laziness by making your mission so simple that you can't refuse it.
There are two parts to this two-minute rule:
Part 1: If it takes less than two minutes, then take care of it now
This is what David Allen advises in his best-selling book Getting Things Done. It's amazing how many things we postpone when it would take us less than two minutes to take care of them. Like doing the dishes immediately after a meal, putting the laundry in the machine, taking out the trash, sending an email, etc.
If it takes you less than two minutes, follow this rule and get rid of your task now.
Part two: Motivating yourself to do something shouldn't take more than two minutes
Can all your goals be achieved in two minutes? Certainly not.
However, you can start all your projects in less than two minutes. That's the principle of this rule.
This may seem too simple for your biggest projects, but I disagree. It works for everything, for one good reason: it's physics.
The physics of real life
Isaac Newton taught us a long time ago that objects in a state of rest remain at rest and objects in a state of motion remain in motion. This is as true for humans as it is for falling apples.
The two-minute rule works as well for small as for large projects because of the inertia of life. Once you start something, it's easier to keep doing it. I love this two-minute rule because it conveys the idea that a lot of good things can happen as soon as you get started.
• Want to write better? Write just one sentence (two-minute rule) and you'll find yourself writing for an hour.
• Want to eat healthier? Eat a fruit (two-minute rule) and you'll want to make yourself a good salad too.
• Want to read more? Read the first page of a new book (two-minute rule) and before you know it, you'll have read three chapters.
• Want to run three times a day? On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, put on your sneakers and go outside (two-minute rule) and you'll end up running regularly instead of staying on the couch snacking.
The two-minute rule is not intended to influence the results you will obtain, but rather to motivate you to do things. The important thing is to take action and then let things happen.
What's most difficult when establishing new habits is starting (not just the first time, but every time). The main thing is to get started, not the result. And this is especially true at the beginning because later on, you will have the opportunity to improve your efficiency.
Try it now
I can't guarantee that the two-minute rule will work for you. However, I can guarantee that it won't work if you never try it.
What do you have to do that will take less than two minutes? Do it now.
Everyone can take the next 120 seconds. Make sure that time is used wisely. Let's go!
James Clear.
Huffingtonpost.fr
Posted on February 3, 2014.
I want to share this technique with you so you can try it and see how effective it is.
What's great? It's a very simple strategy. Here's what you need to know:
How to stop procrastinating with the "two-minute rule"?
The goal of what I call the "two-minute rule" is to make it easier to do what you have to do.
Here's the thing: You usually postpone tasks that are not complicated to accomplish. You have the skills to carry out these tasks, but you avoid tackling them for one reason or another.
The two-minute rule helps overcome procrastination and laziness by making your mission so simple that you can't refuse it.
There are two parts to this two-minute rule:
Part 1: If it takes less than two minutes, then take care of it now
This is what David Allen advises in his best-selling book Getting Things Done. It's amazing how many things we postpone when it would take us less than two minutes to take care of them. Like doing the dishes immediately after a meal, putting the laundry in the machine, taking out the trash, sending an email, etc.
If it takes you less than two minutes, follow this rule and get rid of your task now.
Part two: Motivating yourself to do something shouldn't take more than two minutes
Can all your goals be achieved in two minutes? Certainly not.
However, you can start all your projects in less than two minutes. That's the principle of this rule.
This may seem too simple for your biggest projects, but I disagree. It works for everything, for one good reason: it's physics.
The physics of real life
Isaac Newton taught us a long time ago that objects in a state of rest remain at rest and objects in a state of motion remain in motion. This is as true for humans as it is for falling apples.
The two-minute rule works as well for small as for large projects because of the inertia of life. Once you start something, it's easier to keep doing it. I love this two-minute rule because it conveys the idea that a lot of good things can happen as soon as you get started.
• Want to write better? Write just one sentence (two-minute rule) and you'll find yourself writing for an hour.
• Want to eat healthier? Eat a fruit (two-minute rule) and you'll want to make yourself a good salad too.
• Want to read more? Read the first page of a new book (two-minute rule) and before you know it, you'll have read three chapters.
• Want to run three times a day? On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, put on your sneakers and go outside (two-minute rule) and you'll end up running regularly instead of staying on the couch snacking.
The two-minute rule is not intended to influence the results you will obtain, but rather to motivate you to do things. The important thing is to take action and then let things happen.
What's most difficult when establishing new habits is starting (not just the first time, but every time). The main thing is to get started, not the result. And this is especially true at the beginning because later on, you will have the opportunity to improve your efficiency.
Try it now
I can't guarantee that the two-minute rule will work for you. However, I can guarantee that it won't work if you never try it.
What do you have to do that will take less than two minutes? Do it now.
Everyone can take the next 120 seconds. Make sure that time is used wisely. Let's go!
James Clear.
Huffingtonpost.fr
Posted on February 3, 2014.
