Do It Now Rule
A simple productivity rule stating that if a task takes less than 3 minutes, you should do it immediately without any thinking or planning. This eliminates the overhead of scheduling, tracking, or remembering quick tasks and keeps small items from accumulating.
Last updated: 2026-04-04 22:53
Overview
The Do It Now Rule is a straightforward time management principle designed to prevent small tasks from accumulating and cluttering your to-do list.
The Rule
If a task takes less than 3 minutes, do it now, without any thinking or planning.
Rationale
The cognitive overhead of deciding to later, scheduling, recording, and remembering a 3-minute task far exceeds the actual time it takes to complete the task. By doing it immediately, you eliminate this overhead and keep your mental workspace clear.
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