The answer is… A lot!
Everyone has the same amount of time every day. How you decide to use that time is, for the most part, up to you.
We all get the same 86,400 seconds every day.
Use them wisely (and occasionally) in 120 second bursts!
Consider the Two Minute Drill
There is a school of thought that says if you can get something done in two minutes to just do it and get it off your plate.
Using this model of task management has its detractors and its challengers.
One Big Question –
Are these the right things to do in those two minute drills?
This is where ABC prioritization comes in. But, there’s more on that a little later.
Using the Two Minute Drill
It’s as obvious as it sounds.
- Pick a task
- Do it (within two minutes)
- Move on
In theory you can get 30 tasks done in an hour. Sometimes a little more and sometimes a little less. Because some “Two Minute Drills” don’t actually take two minutes.
Time Check: Too often … the time you spend thinking about them, procrastinating about them and deciding whether you should delegate them can take more than the two minutes to actually get the thing done.
Rule of Thumb:
If you can do it in TWO … get it through!
Three Risks of Two Minute Drills
1. Getting the Right Things Done
One possible risk of using the two minute rule too extensively is that you can unintentionally spend your days doing non-critical tasks. And, if you never move the needle you’re at risk of not getting the right things done. Use the Two Minute Drill wisely.
Knowing how and when to employ a Two Minute Drill is as critical as knowing when you should apply the 4D’s of Time Management. Using both of these wisely will help you stand out in your career.
Using Two Minute Drills is a balancing act
Use ABC prioritization to stack rank what gets added to your Two Minute Drill. Where “A” tasks are important and critical; “B” tasks are important, but not critical; and “C” items should probably be delegated or dumped.
This is where your personal goals and professional goals need to be applied as a litmus test to help you decide what will make it into your Two Minute Drills.
2. Rapid Task Switching
Multitasking is a myth. Some people are better at rapid task switching than others, but it’s shown that Multi-Tasking does not work … as I wrote about in 7 Tips for Hearing More and Doing More. That’s OK! The fact is … you CAN use Two Minute Drills to get things done (GTD).
3. Interruptions Happen
Every day we get the same amount of time. We get to decide where and how to spend it. Interruptions from peers, bosses, family, and other things will change our plans. We can just deal with them as they come up.
We all get the same 86,400 seconds per day.
Use them wisely (and occasionally) in 120 second bursts!
Bonus: Take a Break
As you are executing your Two Minute Drills don’t forget to take an occasional break. As I wrote about in Entrepreneur Why You Should Take 10 Minutes a Day to Do NOTHING.
Are Two Minute Drills for You?
I cannot guarantee Two Minute Drills will work for you. However, they are worth trying. It’s a very simple model that can be tried a few times and tested in your real-world working conditions. I hope you give Two Minute Drills a try and that you take Two Minutes to add a comment here about how they’ve worked for you.
Decide it. Do it. Move on!
