The Mighty Power of Two Minutes: Conquering Procrastination in Med School and Beyond

Procrastination is a common problem that many of us struggle with. We often put off tasks that we don’t enjoy or find challenging and end up wasting time and energy on distractions. But what if there was a simple way to overcome procrastination and get things done?

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you two different 2-minute rules that I learned from reading tons of productivity books. These rules helped me drastically cut down on my procrastination during medical school, and I hope they can help you too.

The First 2-Minute Rule: If It Takes Two Minutes to Do, Get It Done Right Now

The first 2-minute rule comes from Getting Things Done by David Allen. He says:

If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.

This rule is based on the idea that the time and effort it takes to remember and organize a task is often more than the time and effort it takes to actually do it. For example, if I need to take out the trash today, it takes me two minutes to do so. If I’m thinking about it now, I might as well just do it now instead of writing it down on a to-do list, probably forgetting about it, or having to come back to it later, which takes more than two minutes. That’s how I see it.

So, here’s a list of things that might take two minutes throughout the day:

• Organizing your desk
• Watering your plants
• Clipping those nasty nails
• Sending a quick email
• Making your bed
• Washing your dishes

I just do it when I notice it. But these little things start to add up. This rule biases my brain towards taking action and away from procrastination.

The Second 2-Minute Rule: When You’re Trying to Do Something You Don’t Really Want to Do, Simplify the Task Down to Two Minutes or Less

The second 2-minute rule comes from Atomic Habits by James Clear. He says:

When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.

This rule is based on the idea that the hardest part of any task is starting it. Once you start, it’s easier to keep going. But if you set a big goal, like studying for an hour, running for 30 minutes, or writing a thousand words, you might feel overwhelmed and intimidated and end up avoiding it.

So, the trick is to simplify the task down to something that takes two minutes or less and make that your goal. For example:

• Studying for an hour becomes reading one paragraph
• Running for 30 minutes becomes putting on your running shoes
• Writing a thousand words becomes writing one sentence

Now, some of you might think, “Yeah, this is just a Jedi mind trick. Like, why would I fall for it? How is this at all sustainable?” And to that, he says:

The point is not to do one thing. The point is to master the habit of showing up. A habit must be established before it can be improved.

He also suggests that, when you’re starting out, limit yourself to only two minutes. So, back in medical school, I wanted to build the habit of studying for one hour every day before dinner. So, I tried this trick, but I limited myself to just two minutes. I’d sit down, open my laptop, study for two minutes, and then close my laptop and go do something else.

It seems unproductive at first, right? It seems stupid. But staying consistent with this two-minute routine day after day meant that I was becoming the type of person who studies daily. I was mastering the habit of just showing up. Because a habit needs to be established before it can be expanded upon. If I can’t become a person who studies for just two minutes a day, I'll never be able to become a person who studies for an hour a day. You gotta start somewhere. But starting small is easier.

Conclusion

So, these are the two 2-minute rules that I use to beat procrastination and get things done. The first one is: if it takes two minutes to do, get it done right now. The second one is: when you’re trying to do something you don’t really want to do, simplify the task down to two minutes or less.

I hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who might benefit from it. And if you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in the next blog post. Bye!