In 2 Minutes or Less

Here’s something to live by: If it takes 2 minutes or less, just do it.

Got an email that you can reply to in 2 minutes or less? Hit reply and, well, reply, getting it out of your inbox and – more importantly – out of your mind.

Need to type out instructions for a colleague or client, and it’ll be 2 minutes or less? Just do it, it’ll save you unnecessary questions, or at the very least give you the opportunity to refer to read the (fucking) manual.

Feeling annoyed and edgy? Maybe you need to clear your head. Leave your desk for a little while, say 2 minutes or less, and come back with a clear mind. Better yet, meditate if that’s your poison, it’ll do wonders.

Got receipts, time reports, and/or expenses to log? I bet it takes 2 minutes or less, and you know the drill by now. Just do it.

Filing away newsletters and blog posts to read later? Stick it in a read later service like Pocket, and get a reading time estimate. Is it 2 minutes or less? Always remove clutter and things that linger in the back of your mind, so go read it.


Even 2 minute blocks will add up. There’s a limit to how many 2 minutes or less things you can do in a day. You might find yourself with only tasks of that sort, which will of course end up being a ridiculously efficient day in terms of checked off todos, but what about the things you push when you do a 2 minutes or less task, things that take longer? Those tasks are still there, just not prioritized. That’s not necessarily the right decision, so think things through properly.

The general rule, however, stands. If it takes 2 minutes or less, just do it.

(Like typing out this blog post, editing withstanding.)