The Power of Thinking Small: What could you do with just 2 minutes to make a difference in your productivity?

The power of Quantum Productivity is all about the smallest thing you could do to turn "drains into gains." So let's start with the idea of 2 minutes.  Two minutes is a lot longer than most people realize...and it's much easier to wrap your brain around in every way.

For me, thinking small is my secret power weapon for outsmarting procrastination.  I use it every day to help me get started doing all kinds of stuff I tend to procrastinate about.

For example: If I'm resisting taking a walk, or making breakfast, or answering email, or whatever.  I say things to myself like:

 

"okay...try it for 1 or 2 minutes - then you can stop if you can't really get into it."  

 

For me, it's critical to include giving myself permission to stop because it takes some of the pressure off.

Once the pressure is off, I truly don't mind doing things as much. It's like my resistance just melts.  Kinda like when a guy takes you out on a date and stops pressuring you for the kiss, right?  Once the pressure is off, you get more in the mood.  hmmm...think about that.   : )

I may be a freak, but it really works for me and for most people who, like me, tend to put too much pressure on ourselves and then shut down.  : ) 

With the pressure off, I usually do more than I intended and then feel better about myself in many ways.  Doing MORE instead of less than I intended to actually gets me more energized, feeling more optimistic, and then I'm ready to tackle even more challenging tasks.  

So yes.  I'm going to stand up to all those people who tell you to do the challenging stuff first and offer another way to look at things.  I'm not saying they are wrong, but it's only one possible strategy.  It may work for them, but

it never works for me.  So there.  I'm sticking to doing the easy, small stuff first and giving myself permission to do just a little.  : )  

I've had personal trainers tell me it's not good enough to walk for just two- five minutes a day.  I just ignore them, honestly.  Cuz, at least by doing 5 minutes a day, I

• got in the habit of really liking to go for walks. 
• AND I also feel more energetic 
• AND I can walk a LOT faster now 
• AND I can  go further in that 5 minutes than I ever used to.  

To me...that's plenty good enough for me to feel good about myself.  I'm NOT gonna let them or anyone else minimize what a personal victory it was for me to even do those 5 minutes.    

Here are some other things you can do with the power of thinking small...or with just 2 minutes.

• Pay just 2 of the bills in that growing pile.   
• File 5 - 10 papers, or more?  [How many papers can you file in 2 minutes?  Hmmm..I dare you to find out.]
• Clean out just one section of your wallet
• Clean only the toilet instead of the whole bathroom - can you do it in less than 2 minutes?  
• Answer just 5 emails - or take just 2 minutes to answer as many emails as you can. 

BONUS TIP: Set up a timer to notice how long it really takes to answer each email. Start noticing what kinds of emails tend to take longer...what the pattern?  How could you create a "template" that would help you speed up your responses to those types of email?   

What could you do today with just 2 minutes to change course and make a difference - in not only your productivity - but in how you feel about yourself and your "little dones"?  

 

Comments

[Pursuit of Focus]

Yes! I've used this before. I've been putting off cleaning my closet for months. Finally, I told myself to go pick up my closet for the 15 minutes it would take my dinner to cook. By the time my dinner was ready, I didn't want to stop!

[karin Stewart]

Ariane,

Love this post. This is what I tell my clients too. Hope all is well.

Karin

[Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed.]

Thanks so much for sharing this! If someone would have tried to tell me 10 yrs ago that I some day would actually grow to ENJOY cleaning out my closet regularly or that I would use getting rid of old clothes to help energize myself and clear my head, I would have thought they were delusional. I used to be allergic to getting rid of clothes. It took me years to pare down to the point where it's now actually EASY to use my drawers and closet. I even have extra space! Keep up the great work and stay in touch! : )

[Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed.]

Thanks Karin! Great to hear from you! All is well here. Hope all is well with you too! : )