Although the school year has ended, and irritating homework deadlines gone with it, procrastination still commonly plagues students and teachers alike.  However, I suggest a strategy to start eliminating it from your life.  It’s called the Two-Minute Rule, and the concept is simple: every goal you need to reach can be started or completed in two minutes or less.

While this seems ridiculous, it’s actually true – people are prone to inertia, and once you start on a task, chances are you’ll end up working longer than expected, getting closer to finishing that paper, or organizing your closet.

It’s ridiculous how often we procrastinate on simple tasks that can be done in less than two minutes.  For example, taking out the trash, folding your laundry, washing your breakfast dishes, writing that email- are all things that can be done in about 120 seconds.  If it takes less than two minutes, follow the rule and do it right now.

For longer tasks or life goals the same thing applies: just start it, and see what happens.  Want to eat healthier? Get off the computer and eat a tangerine right now.  Want to read that book by Tuesday? Just read the first couple pages. You might be surprised by the follow through.