Use the 2-Minute Rule to Increase Productivity Instantly

Two minutes can seem like a short amount of time, right? ??

But, sometimes, it’s all you need to get things going and tick everything off your to-do list.?

Join us as we discover ways in which you can incorporate the 2-minute rule — a simple yet effective method for successfully tackling work tasks.?

*This article is the abridged, adapted version of the blog post originally published at the Clockify blog: https://clockify.me/blog/productivity/increase-productivity-2-minute-rule/?

What is the 2-minute rule and why is it important??

David Allen first mentioned the 2-minute rule in his book Getting Things Done.?

Simply put, when there’s a task that’ll take 2 or less minutes to finish — do it immediately.?

CEO and digital strategist Solomon Wiesen says the 2-minute rule acts like a psychological trick that enables you to start working on tasks instead of remaining still:

“Procrastination feeds off inertia, and the 2-minute rule acts like a jolt of energy, forcing you to take that first step. It’s like tricking your brain into saying, ‘Okay, I’ll just start with this little thing,’ and before you know it, you’re in the flow and tackling the bigger stuff too.”

2 ways to use the 2-minute rule

Here are a few ways to stop procrastinating by using the 2-minute rule:

1. Tackle quick tasks —? For instance, if you’re clearing your inbox, and a new email pops in, answer it immediately.
2. Tackle big tasks — For example, break down a large task into smaller components and focus on each component.?

The rule helps you realize that almost all the tasks can be broken down into achievable segments. This way, even time-consuming projects won’t seem insurmountable.

You can combine managing quick and big tasks as you see fit, i.e., based on which ones have higher priority for you at the given moment.?

Examples of 2-minute tasks at work

Here’s a list of tasks you can tackle when starting to implement the 2-minute rule into your work routine:?

• Make your favorite ?beverage,?
• Turn on your time tracker app to start recording your work hours,
• Open your inbox, and decide which emails to respond to,?
• Water the ??plant on your desk, and
• Tidy up your desk.

You can easily add more tasks to this list depending on the type of work you do.?

Our advice is to set up and clean your working area first, then declutter your digital space, and only then move forward with more meaningful tasks.?

We can all agree that it’s much more inspiring to work in a clutterless, airy office, and the best part is — it takes just a few minutes to do so.????

How to use the 2-minute rule effectively to beat procrastination?

Here are some useful tips to beat procrastination using the 2-minute rule:?

• Perfection isn’t your friend — Focus on doing rather than achieving perfection, and you’ll notice how many more tasks you get to accomplish,
• Consistency is the only way to get the finest results — You should apply the 2-minute rule every day, and
• Combination of meaningful and less demanding tasks is the key — You’ll avoid mental exhaustion if you periodically switch to easier tasks.??

Yet another great tip comes from trial attorney and business owner Andrew Pickett, who advises business owners to pay attention to small wins as they also lead to advancement:

“My top recommendation for effectively implementing this rule in a professional environment is to encourage a cultural shift that celebrates small victories and reinforces the idea that even minimal efforts contribute to progress.”

Use Clockify and the 2-minute rule for the best results

Procrastination doesn’t stand a chance against an easy-to-use time tracking tool like Clockify.?

To get started, you can simply set a ?timer, enter time manually, or even auto-track time.?

Then, use weekly, monthly, summary, or other time tracking reports to gather the data.??

For example, the detailed time tracking report shows you exactly how many billable hours you’ve spent on each project.

When you know how much time you spend (or waste due to procrastination) on each task, it’ll be much easier to set the right goals and define deadlines.

Then, timely finished tasks will boost employee motivation, leading to more successful projects.?

Say goodbye to procrastination. ??

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