Introduction: Two-Minute Rule
Career growth, whether it is getting a promotion or learning a new technology, networking or landing a new position, is frequently full of large and important objectives to reach. The tasks that are required for you everyday to keep your career going are usually small and administrative, though.
Replying to an email, updating your resume, organizing your portfolio or your network, filling out a job application or your LinkedIn profile – all of these and many other activities require only a minor chunk of your time but may become very stressful when accumulated.
Hence, it is important to dedicate some time to these activities and organize them better in order not to feel overwhelmed. And the Two-Minute Rule can help you do that!
What Is the Two-Minute Rule?
The two-minute rule is a self-management technique that says if a task will take less than two minutes to complete, you should do it right away instead of saving it for later.
The two-minute rule is especially beneficial for career administration since most of the tasks involved in managing your career are small and doing them later does not make them any easier.
For instance, if a recruiter emails to ask for your availability, you can reply within two minutes. However, if you leave it for later, there is a tendency to procrastinate or misplace the email and have to spend more time digging it out and thinking of a reply.
How to Use the Two-Minute Rule for Your Career?
1. Make a List of Your Career Administrative Tasks
Start by making a list of all the tasks you usually postpone doing. Some of these tasks are likely to include:
- Replying to professional emails
- Sending out a follow-up message
- Updating your resume
- Saving a new achievement or certification
- Organizing professional documents
- Scheduling a conversation
- Updating your linked headline
- Bookmarking suitable job leads
- Adding new contacts to your professional network
- Completing simple forms
Once you have your list, it will be much easier to identify tasks that you can tackle using the two-minute rule.
2. The Two-Minute Test
For any new task that you want to delegate using the two-minute rule, ask yourself the following question.
Can I do this task in two minutes?
If your answer is yes, do it immediately. For instance, if a former colleague emails you to ask if you are available to reconnect, a yes answer to the above question should prompt you to reply right away instead of waiting for days. Within 60 seconds, you can come up with a few suitable times to meet and reply to the email, freeing up your mental space.
3. Do Not Confuse the Rule With Rushing
The Two-Minute Rule does not apply to every single task. Some tasks require more time and effort. The point of the rule is to prevent things that require more thinking power from getting added on your mental plate.
For instance, if you have to update your entire CV and it will take you more than an hour, do not try to multi-task while attempting to finish it in less than two minutes. But, you could spend two minutes creating a document you will use for the task, writing down the changes you need to make, and setting aside the time you will work on it. You could also spend two minutes replying to the email requesting for this update.
The point is to prioritize the advances rather than the perfection.
4. Use It to Keep Your Professional Life Organized
The most powerful part of the Two-Minute Rule is eliminating the feeling of chaos. Say, for instance, you go home one evening and realize you have at least 10 things to do before the end of the week.
You do not know if any of these things are worth your time and effort, but you also know you should not ignore them. This feeling is absolutely stressful, and it should not be the case. A simple implementation of the Two-Minute Rule can help you with avoiding such situations in the future.
The next time you see a request that seems simple, reply to it immediately. If you earned a certificate in something, file it right away. If you were recognized for a job well done, write it down or save it somewhere so it will not be wasted.
The small things can save you the hassle of having to look for something you will need in the future.
5. Create a “Career Admin” Routine
The Two-Minute Rule works best when combined with a daily or weekly routine. Spend a few minutes at the end or beginning of the day going over your career-related emails, task list, and calendar. Make a note of everything that seems simple and manageable. Try not to save these tasks for later since they will eventually have to be completed.
For the ones that require more time and effort, decide what their fate will be. You could schedule a specific time to work on them, delegate them to someone else, or break them into smaller and more manageable tasks. The key is to come up with a career admin system similar to this:
6. Determine When to Skip the Rule
You should not limit the Two-Minute Rule to only administrators; however, you also should not apply it to every situation, even if it involves a brief interruption. If the interruption occurs while you are working on a critical task, complete the quick errand, and then return to the more important task. If the quick task involves calling or meeting with someone, store any relevant information so that you can refer to it later, if necessary, and then return to your primary work.
Remember, the Two-Minute Rule is designed to help you accomplish small tasks and arrange more important ones so that you can complete them without interruptions. Therefore, it is essential that the interruption be quick, that it does not involve any important work, and that it is not completely useless either.
Conclusion: Two-Minute Rule
Thus, the Two-Minute Rule provides a solution to the above-described work-related issues. In particular, managing daily affairs according to the described rules allows one to ensure that small tasks get done right away, while more significant tasks are not neglected due to the lack of time.
As a result, people have more control over their careers than ever since, by working consistently and productively without procrastinating. In addition, it is essential to note that it is not necessary to make significant efforts to advance one’s career. Even a few minutes per day, spent on the right activities, can produce extremely favorable results in the long run.
“Small career tasks can quickly become overwhelming when they pile up. Use the two-minute rule to handle simple tasks immediately, stay organized, and create more time for important career goals. Build better productivity habits with Best Job Tool.”
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