The only way to stop procrastinating…

After reading tons of productivity books I came across so many rules.

Like the 2-year rule, the 5-minute rule, and the 5-second rule.

The problem is that these rules are meant for companies or entrepreneurs.

But I was able to adapt to my studies of self-improvement while going to the gym every day and drastically cut down my procrastination.

So I’m going to share with you two different two-minute rules for the next 2 minutes of your reading time.

The first two-minute rule comes from ‘Getting Things Done’ by David Allen. 

He says “If it takes two minutes to do, get it done right now.” 

For example, if I need to take out the trash today, it takes two minutes to do. 

So if I’m thinking about it, I might as well just do it now… 

Instead of writing it down on a to-do list or probably forgetting about it or having to come back to it later which takes more than two minutes.

That’s how I see it. 

So here’s a short list of things that might take two minutes throughout the day… 

…like organizing your desk. 

…or watering your plants. 

…or clipping those nasty nails.

I just do it when I notice it but these little things start to add up so this rule biases my brain towards taking action and away from procrastination.

The second two-minute rule comes from ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear.

He says “When you’re trying to do something you don’t really want to do, simplify the task down to two minutes or less.” 

So, doing your entire reading assignment becomes just reading one paragraph.

Or memorizing the entire periodic table becomes memorizing just 10 flashcards.

Now some of you might think this is just a Jedi mind trick… 

…like why would I fall for it? 

…how is this at all sustainable?

And to that, he says “When you’re starting out, limit yourself to only two minutes.”

So back when I was carefully studying self-improvement, I wanted to build a habit of reading a book for at least one hour a day. 

I tried this trick, but I limited myself to just two minutes.

I’d sit down, open my laptop, study for two minutes, and then close my laptop and go do something else.

It seems unproductive at first right… 

It seems stupid but staying consistent with this two-minute routine day after day meant that I was becoming the type of person who studies daily. 

I was mastering the habit of just showing up because a habit needs to be established before it can be expanded upon.

If I can’t become a person who studies for just two minutes a day I’d never be able to become the person that studies for an hour a day.

You see the problem is not working…

…it’s the habit of avoiding. 

So, you gotta start somewhere, but starting small is easier.

Remember, you can’t improve a habit that doesn’t exist.

Just start now and the rest will follow.

Until next time,

- EXCELERATE