A 2-component philosophy on self-improvement:
- If a task can be done in two minutes, do it now!
- Any new habit should take less than two minutes to begin.
Please let me elaborate:
- Do it now!
We tend to put off the small things, which actually begin to clutter our life without us even noticing: Sending that email, doing the dishes, taking out the trash and so on. If it’s going to take less than two minutes to accomplish, then do it immediately. Your sanity will thank you for it!
- New habits:
Take Physical Exercise for example; obviously, I can’t drop ten pounds in two minutes, but I can definitely lace up my running shoes and get out the door in that time or less! The goal here is to grab part of a new habit you’d like to start (e.g.-exercise) and have a first step in accomplishing it that takes two minutes or less (lacing up your running shoes). This makes the entire project (weight loss) less tedious and more approachable. And it works.
James Clear appropriates Newton’s law in support of this rule in a brief interview about his bestseller Transform Your Habits: The Science of How to Stick to Good Habits and Break Bad ones. It goes like this: An object in motion tends to stay in motion. The philosophy here is that in order to create the habit, you need to start the habit.
I tried the Two Minute Rule for a month where I work as a Graphic Designer. Here’s my experience:
- My stress levels decreased.
Instead of flailing in circles when a large project plopped onto my plate, I was able to break it into parts that I could fully understand, which removed the stress of tackling a large project that had potential blind spots. I took the first small step (I took two minutes and tried grasping the full nature of the project) and everything flowed after. When a small hitch occurred along the way, I was able to find instant solutions and workarounds as I knew the nature and goal of the project.
- Improved communication.
Breaking the project into smaller parts helped me to sooner identify areas of difficulty. This made me reach out to teammates for assistance sooner and as frequently as needed, which is a big plus in any organization as it quickens project-turnover rates and therefore increases productivity.
Bonus: If you’re an introvert such as myself, this increased communication is great (though awkward at first) for your general workplace presence.
- You can teach as you’re learning.
The two-minute rule afforded me the mindset to embrace fully all facets of the task/project I was undertaking without becoming overwhelmed. This put me in a prime position afterward to fully teach a newbie, and field all questions that a novice might have.
So, there you have it. The major ways in which the Two-Minute rule helped!
If you’re accustomed with being stuck at certain points in any project (graphic design, or otherwise), then you may be (subconsciously) looking at them as large insurmountable things that continually mow you down (as was my case prior). The Two Minute Rule actually grants you the courage and perspective to tackle things that were once so very intimidating.
If you have similar or different thoughts, do drop me a line in the comments section or even email me nikolai@auratechtt.com. I do look forward to hearing your similar or different experiences!