Two-Minute Rule
If something takes less than two minutes, do it now — and shrink any task you're avoiding to a two-minute first step.
Helps with: “I can't start”, “Too much to do”
How it works
There are two versions, and both are useful.
The original (David Allen): when a new task appears and it would take less than two minutes, do it immediately. Tracking, filing and remembering it would take longer than just doing it.
The starting version (James Clear): when you’re avoiding something big, shrink it to a version that takes two minutes. “Write the essay” becomes “open the document and write one sentence”. “Go running” becomes “put on running shoes”. The goal is only to start; if you keep going afterwards, that’s a bonus, but it isn’t required.
Starting is often the biggest hurdle, and a two-minute step is small enough that there’s little to resist.
Try it now
- Think of one task you’ve been putting off.
- Write the smallest possible first step — something you could finish in two minutes.
- Do only that step, right now.
- When you’re done, you’re allowed to stop. Notice whether you want to continue.
When it does not work
- If you're doing deep work, handling every tiny task "now" becomes a constant interruption. Collect them for later.
- A day made entirely of two-minute tasks feels busy but may leave the important work untouched.
- Some tasks genuinely can't be shrunk to two minutes — then the aim is just to start, not to finish.
Evidence
Evidence: Mostly anecdotalThere's no direct research on the two-minute rule. It's a practical heuristic from David Allen's "Getting Things Done", later adapted for habits by James Clear. It's cheap to try and easy to drop if it doesn't help you.
Mostly anecdotal: Widely used and may help you, but little or no direct research.