How to be more productive with the 20-minute rule

Do you find yourself endlessly putting off things? Just about everyone does. Especially important stuff like exercise, time with your family, or that book you keep promising yourself you’ll write.

That’s because they’re so easy to put off. And it’s hard to get motivated to start. Especially if it’s something you feel it must be done perfectly.

“De-chunking” a task into 20-minute sessions will get past that hurdle. Like if you’re putting off writing a difficult report, start by working on just one easy section.

And before you know it, the momentum of the task will carry you forward. By tackling important jobs in short sessions over several days, your subconscious will also work on them in the background.

You’ll find that each time you return to your work, you can see the way forward much more clearly.

Change your life

Psychologists call this “the 20 minutes rule”. The idea that you can do anything for 20 minutes, no matter how boring or scary. It’s a great way to motivate yourself, and can completely change your life.

Like if you do some enjoyable exercise for 20 minutes every day, there’ll be no need to worry about your health.

Spend 20 minutes a day tidying up and you’ll never be lost in the clutter again.

Listen to your family for 20 minutes a day, and they’ll all be much happier.

Read a good book for 20 minutes a day and you’ll gradually become an expert.

Spend 20 minutes a day setting goals and organising priorities, and you’ll always know what needs to be done next.

Spend 20 minutes a day unashamedly doing nothing!

Or pick something you’d really like to achieve and commit yourself to doing it. Then work on your project for just twenty minutes every day.

Like start writing that book. A whole book, written in 20 minute chunks.

Create a blog and post to it every day. Or work on developing your Twitter account.

Learn a new language or a musical instrument.

Learn yoga or meditate. Just 20 minutes a day and you’ll become more focused, creative, and productive.

Learn to cook simple meals.

Turn off all the distractions while you’re working on your project: radio, TV, email and messaging. Switch your phone to silent. Tell your family not to disturb you.

At the end of your 20-minute session, just stop. And give yourself a treat. Don’t be tempted to go on working. The urge to do more means you’ll be motivated to start again tomorrow. And the treat - as little as a cup of tea, or a few minutes on Facebook - is all it takes to keep your brain eager for the next session.

It’s worth learning the 20 minute rule. Because once you do, you’ll find you have a whole new approach to life. More pro-active, confident and less stressed - and a lot more creative and productive!

And who knows where all that could lead.