The 2-Minute Rule

💡 What Is It?

From David Allen's Getting Things Done, the 2-Minute Rule: commit to just 2 minutes of a dreaded task, then give yourself permission to quit. Research shows that once people begin, they almost always continue — a phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik Effect.

Source: David Allen (GTD)

⏰ When to Use It

• You've been avoiding a task for days
• The task feels too long and exhausting
• You lack energy and motivation
• Perfectionism makes starting feel risky
• You need to build a new habit

✋ How to Do It

1. 1

   Set a 2-minute commitment

   Tell yourself: I will only do this for 2 minutes, then I can stop.

2. 2

   Start a timer

   Set your phone or a physical timer. This makes the commitment real.

3. 3

   Begin — imperfectly

   During those 2 minutes, just do something. Don't aim for quality, just activity.

4. 4

   When the timer rings, decide

   Ask: do I want to keep going? Most of the time, you will. If not — you still won.

💡 Real-Life Example