That 2-minute Rule

 

That 2-minute Rule To Counter Procrastination is NO rocket science.  It's NOT even like an operational RUNBOOK where we need to follow things step-by-step.  Problem is, many of us are NOT aware [and IF they're aware, they are NOT conscious enough] probably at least 80% of tasks we need to take action will NOT take donkey weeks, months OR years [UNLESS you've got a major project like a house renovation] OR you're planning for a full-blown family holiday in Europe OR the Americas.  Problem is, many of us were reared and mentored with that framed old school approach, WHERE everything is in serial mode, just like those train locomotives WHERE the engine car is in front of the caboose☝☝☝

From pre-school [ooops, we used to call it Kindergarten School], we were taught to literally follow instructions down to a 'T', NO shortcuts, NO cutting corners, only 'sure cuts'.  You misstep OR breach one minute thing, you will be 'dealt accordingly', a euphemism WHICH means NO less than a punishment.  The only variable is the level of punishment!!!

Fast-forward once we plunged into the workplace, it's like a 180-degree turnaround WHERE everything needs to be executed AS PER RUNBOOK.  We were then introduced into SLA's WHICH, in the contact/call center world, just to rattle off a few, ASA [Average Speed of Answer], AHT [Average Handling Time], FCR [First Call Resolution] and of course we were introduced into that 80-20 Rule WHICH literally requires operators [a.k.a. customer service agent] to pick up and answer 80% of inbound calls within 20 seconds, indeed a tough nut to crack, think about it💥💥💥

Back to our lives, the 2-minute RULE should NOT be a hard-sell at all.  Household chores, we can always find a reason [a.k.a. excuses and alibis] that someone takes charge of it.  BUT once we get into the workplace, you've got to do WHAT you need to do.  WHEN I was an entry-level team member @SHELL, to find 50 new emails in my inbox at start of day was like a headline-grabbing thing to talk about.  Today, having a thousand new emails at SOD [start of day] is NOT worth a talking point.  BTW, I run monthly mail cleanups and YET to date, I still got 16,000+ unread mails.  You might confront me if I am ever 'walking the talk' with regard the 2-minute rule.  Without feeling slighted, I'll proudly proclaim with a LOUD YES that everyday [both at work and off work], I do go by that 2-minute rule😁😁😁

Our takeaway:  This may sound petty BUT let's face it, if only we consider those low-hanging fruits WHEN prioritizing, I'm afraid we will reach an overwhelming point WHERE we are so buried deep by all tasks and even priorities that keep sliding and skidding.  And by then, I'm NOT optimistic how one, with little effort, can do a catch-up of at least cleaning up 80% of WHAT's overdue.  Dude, we should not hard-sell this 2-minute rule, right???