The 2-Minute Rule: A Simple Trick to Stop Procrastinating.

Laziness is not the main reason for procrastination, it is about avoidance of starting. You're aware that something must be done, but for some reason, it's always going to be tomorrow. One of the easiest ways to overcome that resistance is the 2-minute rule, and it is one of the most easily understood and easily implemented tips for productivity.

The idea

If the task will take less than 2 minutes, do it as soon as it occurs, do not schedule it, do not add it to a list, just do it! If it's bigger than that, only do the first two minutes. Say to yourself: If I want to, I can stop after that. Well, you'll most likely not do that most of the time.

Actually me personally I mix routines and 2 minute rule. If I need to get done I'll just put that thing in my routine that's it. I'm not wise or disciplined or get things right every single time. Even now I have not washed my bike for 3 weeks or organized my wardrobe for 3 weeks, That's because I didn't make that in my routine.

From now every Sunday Im going to do that after my morning routine. Just don't judge me I'm also trying to be productive not an expert.

Why it works

The hardest part of nearly every job is starting it.. Your brain is much more put off by a huge and generic task ("write the whole document") than it is by something very small ("open the document and write one sentence"). Take the two minutes to be considered low stakes enough that you're not going back and forth with yourself anymore — just start. When you're in motion, momentum generally carries you further that you wish.

How to apply it

If it's something small, like replying to a message, washing a dish or filing a document, do it as soon as it happens. What can sometimes make a day seem so overwhelming is having a lot of small chores on a list.

Set a time limit for more difficult or intimidating activities — like exercise, difficult conversations, or large assignments — and allow yourself the freedom to end after two minutes. Put on your shoes. Open the file. Write one line. That's it. Any time after two minutes is OK to stop if you still want to stop. Most days however, you won't want to, but you will.

The one error to avoid making is the following:

Do not use the 2-minute rule as a justification to always do "just enough". It's a means to starting and not a limit to what you can do. After the resistance, use "Momentum".

The takeaway

Don't need motivation, you need a thing that will make starting feel like a no-brainer. The reason of the 2 minute rule is that there is no excuse to wait.