# Two-minute rule

> A name shared by two methods: doing very short tasks now, or shrinking a new habit to a two-minute start.

## What it means

Two different rules share the name, and searchers mix them up: David Allen’s Getting Things Done rule (if it takes less than two minutes, do it now) and James Clear’s Atomic Habits rule (start a new habit with a two-minute version). When each helps and where it misleads (a day of two-minute tasks), and how both compare with a five-minute start.

## A practical example

Replying to a tiny confirmation may suit the task rule; opening the document and writing one sentence suits the habit rule.

## Put it into practice

- Name the concrete situation before applying the label. Two-minute rule is useful only when it changes a choice, boundary or next action.
- Make the state visible: write the owner, time, source or stopping condition down instead of relying on memory.
- Review what happened. Keep the part that reduced ambiguity and change the part that added ceremony without helping the work.

## How it relates to Plexii

the Focus timer starts five minutes, then asks Done for now or Keep going (/help/home-widget-focus-timer). Link /blog/five-minute-start.