Use the 'Two-Minute Rule' for Tasks That Cause Anxiety

The Problem

Your to-do list has 30 items. Many are tiny but they create a constant mental weight.

The Hack

Before adding anything to your to-do list, ask: can this be done in under 2 minutes? If yes, do it immediately. Reply to the email, put the dish away, make the appointment.

Why It Works

Small undone tasks create 'open loops' in your brain that consume cognitive resources. Each 2-minute task you complete closes a loop, reducing background mental load and anxiety.

Pro Tips

• Reply to that email now. Put away that dish now. File that paper now.
• This clears 30-50% of your to-do list in 10 minutes
• The mental relief is disproportionate to the effort
• From David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology