Comments on: The trouble with the 2-minute rule, and what to do instead (more on Rule #8: Batch the little things) https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/ Writer, Author, Speaker Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:32:01 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-442681 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:32:01 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-442681 In reply to Sonna.

@Sonna – I think I had that on my long list of titles ha ha. Or maybe Wellness by Wednesday. Thriving by Thursday was definitely in there….

]]> By: Sonna https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-442506 Sun, 19 Mar 2023 15:35:08 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-442506 In reply to Laura Vanderkam.

Winning by Wednesday…?

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-442335 Sat, 18 Mar 2023 17:37:13 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-442335 In reply to Valerie.

@Valerie – yep, better to keep your eye on the ball as much as possible!

]]> By: Valerie https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-442293 Sat, 18 Mar 2023 13:50:27 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-442293 I’m a homeschooling mom of 6, and tried the 2 minute rule briefly a few years ago, but quickly realized that I could literally spend the entire day doing 2 minute tasks (like picking up things that were where they weren’t supposed to be–that’s a never-ending job for sure). Even stopping to do a one-time 2 minute task like calling to schedule an appointment can disrupt our routine, probably because my kids are NOT quick at transitions so if they run off to play instead of doing schoolwork, for example, while I’m doing that 2 minute task, a lot of time is used up trying to get everyone back to what they should be doing. Batching and waiting for a good time definitely works better here.

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-441828 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:13:36 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-441828 In reply to Anna.

@Anna – that would make a lot more sense. I imagine it got misinterpreted because on some level there is good reasoning. It does take some amount of time to transition back to doing something vs. when it was in your head the first time. But when the volume of 2 minute tasks rises, it can become unmanageable to allow for this pulling in other directions.

]]> By: Anna https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-441815 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:22:47 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-441815 In David Allen’s Getting Things Done methodology, the 2-minute rule applies only when you sit down to process your inputs (not when you are collecting them). So that is basically batching. Not sure where this rule came from originally, but perhaps it got misinterpreted along the way.

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-441579 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:50:33 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-441579 In reply to Elisa.

@Elisa- it definitely can take some experimentation to find the best rhythm for batching. I could see someone with a ton of time sensitive little things doing a late AM batching window and a late PM batching window. Twice a day sounds like a lot but it’s still more efficient than flitting in and out of a lot of things.

]]> By: gwinne https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-441565 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:08:00 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-441565 In reply to Cynthia.

These questions are great, Cynthia. I think a lot too about what Cal Newport describes as “context switching”; some of the batching is helpful because it can help group similar tasks / contexts. If it’s a bunch of disconnected “quick” things it might not make a lot of sense….

]]> By: Cynthia https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-441559 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:05:12 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-441559 Batching vs. 2-Minute Rule – an interesting debate. I think it all depends on context – and points to the value of some self-awareness.

If you aren’t super busy – then maybe you can lean more toward the 2-minute rule, BUT are you using the 2-minute rule to procrastinate (as @Diane has pointed out)? I definitely should batch my email processing – I use it now to procrastinate and to give me a false sense of accomplishment – that little dopamine hit from pressing “reply” and/or “delete”.
Similarly, if you are super busy – are you putting things on a to-do list for batching purposes that could be more efficiently done with the 2-minute rule?

I think you can ask yourself – why am I wanting to do this task now? Am I procrastinating? Why do I not want to do this task now? Will it actually take longer by putting it off? Could it be easily “batched” but right now? (like putting away dishes while the kettle boils).

All of the rules are so great in part because they encourage mindfulness, intentionality and self awareness!

]]> By: Elisa https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-trouble-with-the-2-minute-rule-and-what-to-do-instead-more-on-rule-8-batch-the-little-things/#comment-441552 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:59:06 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19044#comment-441552 YES YES YES to: “some folks advocating the 2-minute rule have fewer personal small tasks on their plates than many people reading this blog”

I try my hardest to follow this rule and am currently trying to figure out if dedicating an hour every other day (as opposed to weekly) is the way to go. I try to batch everything up and do it weekly but find that backfires because too many things are time-sensitive!

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