Loading…
21
Showerthought: The two-minute rule is creating more backlog than it clears
Every quick task I start balloons into something larger, leaving me with a dozen open loops, so what's a better approach?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
brooke_singh7mo ago
Oh my god, the two-minute estimate is the biggest lie we tell ourselves! It's never two minutes, because opening that email or putting away that one dish triggers the mental catalog of all the related tasks (like suddenly needing to organize the entire cupboard). You're not clearing a backlog, you're just activating a new, more detailed project map in your brain. I've had to start asking "does this open a door to more decisions?" before acting. If it does, it goes on a dedicated list for a focused batch session later, no matter how small it seems. That initial momentum is totally deceptive.
2
gonzalez.oliver7mo ago
Why does every "quick" task feel like opening Pandora's box? @brooke_singh, your point about the mental catalog rings true because I'll start sorting mail and suddenly realize I need to overhaul my filing system. Now I hesitate before any two-minute claim and ask if it's truly isolated or a trapdoor to more decisions.
7
lisataylor7mo ago
What if we're all tricking ourselves with that two minute idea? I completely feel that mental catalog thing, where one simple action wakes up a whole hidden list in your brain. It turns a quick job into a full review of everything related. Now I stop and wonder if starting this will lead to ten other choices. If the answer is yes, it goes on a list for another time, no exceptions.
2