No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance

by Mukesh Bansal

Performance Hack #37: Follow the Two-Minute Rule Let’s face it, procrastination is real and often the biggest obstacle to productivity. One of the most basic but powerful ways to beat procrastination is the two-minute rule. The rule states that if you can complete a task in two minutes or less, do it now. No matter how busy you are, you always have two minutes to finish a task. Getting small tasks out of the way can really help in knocking items off your to-do list. It will create a feeling of accomplishment. At the next level, the two-minute rule is meant to lead to new habits. But new habits probably need more than a two-minute investment. So in this case, the two minutes can just be a nudge in the right direction—if fitness is the habit you want, then spend two minutes putting on your running shoes and attire; if it’s writing, then just commit to writing one sentence a day. You’ll find that two minutes can really go a long way.