2 Minute Rule: How to Show Up When the Psychology is Against You

Ever heard of the 2 Minute Rule? Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to show up to the daily tasks involved in learning something new? Even if it’s packed with fun and your learning material breaks things down well to teach you the relevant skills in tiny slices, getting the work done can feel daunting.

It’s a paradox, because when we sign up for something — anything — we are champing at the bit. But when work time rolls around and we have to show up, suddenly resistance is real.

Why is that?

Turns out, the psychology of signing up is very, very different from the psychology of showing up.

When we sign up for anything, it’s a clean slate, a fresh beginning, turning over a new leaf. There is unlimited potential to succeed, we’re swept along by the euphoric feeling that everything is possible.

However, come Day 1 of showing up. Now we have to face up to the reality that nothing has changed – yet. Potential reveals itself… at the top of a gentle but long, uphill climb and unfortunately, all our old limitations have come along for the ride.

So, how do we show up when the psychology is against us?

Here are three ways to reduce friction when starting a task, no matter when you encounter it.

The 2 Minute Rule

If you start right now, the chances are that you will get the whole task done with very little friction. Whereas if you put it off till what you think is the ‘right’ time, you won’t get it done at all. If you can get going in less than 2 minutes, make it your default to start now.

Start, and set your timer for 15 minutes

Often we put things off because we want to allocate them a solid amount of time, but then we can’t find ‘enough’ time. Actually, tasks expand to take up as much time as you allocate them. So 9 times out of 10, a time constraint will help you get the task done (and in less time than you expected) because your mind stays focused.

Focus on the process (not the results)

We all want to do our best work so the thought of hurrying and producing something slap-dash can be a roadblock. However, mastering a process (rather than producing perfection) is what creates your results, so focus on the value of engaging in the process, and let the outcome take care of itself.

How does that look in day-to-day life?

“Why does the beginning of a new week feel so hard?” is a common refrain on Da Vinci. It’s routine, even normal, for Monday and Tuesday’s tasks to feel brain-meltingly hard and frustrating. It’s partly because at the outset we often start a new character each week. But it’s also that ‘showing up’ factor.

So in the forum we employ all the tricks set out above: starting ‘now’; working with a timer; posting our work whether we like the results or not. And by Wednesday or Thursday, people are getting to grips with the new skills; by Friday it all feels (relatively) easy.

Life is full of 2 Minute Rule moments (when we need to show up, even when we’d rather read our book)

You might not be doing any ‘new’ at the moment. No cartooning course, nothing out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, there will be times when your book is vastly more compelling than the tasks of the day.

Need to bath the dog?
Go to the gym?
Do your taxes?

It turns out, these three pointers work every time you feel resistance to the task at hand.

Now you know how to get started. What are you going to do today?

~

Acknowledgement

James Clear’s post entitled How to Stop Procrastinating (which is an excerpt from his book Atomic Habits) reminded me of this habit and inspired me to try it again. If you haven’t read Atomic Habits yet, I recommend it highly.

Turns out James Clear picked up this tip from David Allen of Get Things Done fame.

So you are in good company! We are all just looking for ways to stop procrastinating and get on with the good things in our lives ?

Looking for more?

Here are 3 more tips to fuel a drawing habit, or any habit for that matter.