Two Minute Videos on GTD: The Two Minute Rule
June 17th, 2008 Michael SliwinskiCategories | Best Practices | Getting Things Done | Implementation | Video
Michael Sliwinski of Nozbe has started producing two-minute videos featuring different tips, techniques and GTD-related concepts. He’s been kind enough to provide GTDtimes with the initial exclusive on this fun and helpful information. Enjoy the video, it is two-minutes well spent.
Incidentally, if you need a good two minute timer to help you determine what you can accomplish in just two minutes, there are a number of resources available to you online. There are so many countdown widgets for so many platforms that instead of naming one or two, here’s the Google search result so you can simply choose the one you like yourself.
Nice video. The two-minute rule is one of those things I only remember intermittently, instead of always. Likewise the ten minute dash when stuck in inertia in front of a task (back to procrastination). Last night one of my students was stuck on beginning an end of the school year paper. I told her to do a ten minute dash –that means to give herself only ten minutes of totally focused attention on the paper. Then take two minutes off. See what happens. Armed with the two minute rule and the ten minute dash, what else do we need to be efficient.
I don’t know why I sometimes forget the essentials.
Maybe this is more for flylady.com, but here’s another type of timer that I appreciate:
Early in my start with GTD, I bought a sonic toothbrush which runs for… 2 minutes.
In the morning, it is amazing what I can get done in those 2 minutes while brushing my teeth. In that single 2 minute cycle, I can: put any stray dirty clothes in the hamper, get out my socks and underclothes for the day, hang my towel up from the shower, move any dishes or paperwork to the top of the stairs (great for not forgetting what I’ll need that day), put any trash or toiletries away and move any hanging clean laundry to the closet.
The cycle pauses briefly every 30 seconds, so I know how close I am to finishing and can plan to end up at the sink to rinse. Voila, teeth clean and bedroom, well, less messy.
On a different level, I find it a great daily reminder of how long 2 minutes lasts and it is a way to start and end the day thinking about productivity and GTD (in a minty-fresh way).
Great and very useful video. Please, do continue with them!
excellent idea the 2min rule /idea . It makes things less stressful - only I ahve so many 2 min things to do
I have used to encourage my teen age son too …when he will follow.
In 2mins I can change a nappy, put load of washing on , wipe out the bath , make a snadwich (important) , make a cup of tea and pack breakfast dishes in dishwasher … oh the things i can do thanks to you.
Thanks guys for the heads up! I’ll definitely continue with the show, next video is in production already
… and will be posted here at GTDtimes first.
@Wes - thanks for the tip with the toothbrush! I’m actually going to try it wile in the morning while brushing my teeth… gotta get myself one of those 2-minute toothbrushes!
PS. Today I’ve realized that I can make the bed in less than a minute… so I really don’t have an excuse for not doing it in the morning… and my wife knows it…