THE 2-MINUTE RULE

Sometimes the smallest actions have the greatest impact.

This is true about getting through so many of the small tasks that we are faced with each day. Interestingly, polishing off a bunch of small, quickly done tasks can energize us and motivate us to handle the larger, more mentally taxing projects that need to get done.

This philosophy can be applied successfully at both work and home.

WORK

When you set aside time to sort through emails, identify those that simply require a short response. Using the 2-minute rule, take care of the quick and easy emails and save the more thoughtful responses for later. It is also a quick task to delegate emails that need to be addressed by a colleague.

WORD OF CAUTION

Like anything, the 2-minute rule should be used in moderation. It is not difficult to imagine spending an entire day completing small, two-minute tasks and never getting the real, challenging work done!

HOME

One of my favorite examples of the 2-minute rule is getting into the habit of hanging up your coat. I have a large family (6 of us total.)

Can you imagine what it would look like if everyone came in from outside and simply dropped their jacket on the kitchen floor? Even if they put their coats on the back of the kitchen chairs... What a mess!

Hanging your coat up, every time you come inside, is a habit that takes less than two minutes but makes your space look considerably better with very little effort. This is especially true if you get your entire household on board!

What other small, useful tasks at work or at home would fall under the 2-Minute rule?