Avoid Procrastination with the 'Two Minute Rule' from Atomic Habits
The "two-minute rule" is a concept from James Clear's book "Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones." The rule states that if you want to make a new habit stick, you should start with a very small and manageable action that you can do in less than two minutes. The idea is that by making a habit easy to start, you're more likely to stick with it and gradually build it into a part of your daily routine.
Clear argues that the key to building a new habit is to lower the barrier to entry as much as possible. By starting with a small, manageable action, you're less likely to get overwhelmed or discouraged, and more likely to continue the habit for a longer period of time. Additionally, by focusing on consistency rather than perfection, you're less likely to get discouraged if you miss a day or two.
For example, let's say you want to start reading more. Rather than trying to read a whole book on your first day, you could start by just reading two pages a day. Once you've done that for two days in a row, you can increase the difficulty by reading three pages, then four pages, and so on. By gradually increasing the difficulty, you'll be less likely to get overwhelmed and more likely to stick with it.
Another example, let's say you want to start a workout routine. Instead of trying to do a full workout on your first day, you could start by just doing two minutes of stretching. Once you've done that for two days in a row, you can increase the difficulty by adding a minute of cardio, then two minutes, and so on.
In summary, the two-minute rule is a simple and effective method for building new habits by starting small and focusing on consistency rather than perfection. By making a habit easy to start and gradually increasing the difficulty over time, you can make it a part of your daily routine and achieve your goals.
It's a good idea to remember that the two-minute rule works best when you start with a small and manageable action that you can do in less than two minutes. By starting small, you can make it easy to begin and build momentum and confidence that will help you to continue to improve.