In a recent post, I mentioned my intentions of shortening the gap between my idea and its execution.
The 2-minute rule is the newest addition to my arsenal of “things that will improve my life, or so I hope.”
Coined by David Allen in his book Getting Things Done, the two-minute rule states that “If an action will take less than two minutes, it should be done at the moment it's defined.”
The longer you put something off, the harder it feels to accomplish it. The anxiety builds past the actual strain of the task. Procrastination isn’t laziness. It’s fear.
When I first heard of the 2-minute rule it was in the context of productivity. Referenced in that good ole James Clear book, Atomic Habits.
This book helped me break down my desired lifestyle into habits I could wrap my head around.
I read Atomic Habits months back, maybe over a year now and I’m not sure I’ve amassed my 1% improvement everyday.
I was not following the 2-minute rule.
At first, this was about doing better. In terms of productivity, I wanted to get more done and achieve more. While it can feel nice to make strides, check off days on the calendar, and tick off more boxes - it doesn’t make me any better.
I pulled wool over my eyes and pretended to not know what I did indeed know.
This is about the internal transformation. A return to well-being. A return to valuing and trusting myself first and foremost.
All the tips, habits, and tricks would only work if I felt worthy of change.
Fear gives us tunnel vision. Fear narrows our gaze only to the scariest elements, often coloring them far more vibrantly than they deserve.
Winning the productivity game seemed fruitless.
Yet, this week I was reminded of the 2-minute rule and something was different.
Instead of intellectualizing its benefits, I just tried it.
A song played on shuffle that I didn’t like anymore. “I should edit my playlists.” Another future engagement, something to keep track of, something to hold me down, something to guilt me. I backtracked and deleted the song.
What if this was reframed from productivity to accountability? Trusting that you can take care of yourself at the moment instead of staving off self-hatred for later.
A few thank-you cards need to be mailed out this morning. I wrote and addressed them last night. I was tired. It wasn’t what I wanted to do. I signed them and then added stickers to seal the envelopes. I felt good, thinking of the smiles these cards would bring. Smiles that would have never happened if I procrastinated.
It’s not about doing more, but doing what you say you will. It’s about being the person you want to be by being them now. Shortening the gap between task and execution is a powerful way to build self-trust. Trusting your judgment and your capabilities.
So make the tea that takes forever to steep. Edit the account information.
Go back and move that misplaced paper right now before it’s lost in the abyss.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being honest. And having a sense of urgency about our truth.
Acting on the little things without hesitation makes the bigger things in your life feel easier to tackle.
What could you tackle in your life if you tied up loose ends in the moment? What clarity could you have if your mind was free from guilt-inducing to-do’s?
xx
-RissaJean
ICYMI - Shorten the gap between your idea and your action. ⤵️