I got the 2 minute rule wrong.

The two-minute rule means what it says. It happens during the clarifying phase of workflow. If an action will take two minutes or less, it's probably best to do it the moment you identify it.

The key word up there is "probably." It's meant to be a rule of thumb, not a commandment.

As for things I've misunderstood about GTD, there have been quite a few and they're all embarrassing. For instance, the first time I implemented GTD I somehow missed the part about writing things down as needed. Like I said, embarrassing.
 
CamJPete said:
I've had similar questions on this. Good question. This is my take:

The three fold model for evaluating daily work is this:
  1. Doing predefined work (from your calendar and next actions lists)
  2. Doing work as it shows up (reactive, unplanned tasks)
  3. Defining your work (processing inputs and deciding what they mean)
On #1, Doing predefined work:
If following the 2-minute rule to the letter, you wouldn't have any in your predefined work (actions lists) since you'd have already done them.

On #2, Doing work as it shows up:
You are free to do the 2-minute task if you'd like, or not do it if you don't want or are focusing on something else. For example, you may be practicing the piano, realize you need to start the dishwasher which takes two minutes, which you could either do if you'd like, or not want to disrupt your focus so you write it down, and then get it when you have the time. During deep work, it can be counterproductive to break focus to do those tasks. Others may find it more relieving on the brain to do them then get back to the deep work. The key is you have the freedom to do, or not do, the 2-minute items when stuff "shows up".

On #3, Defining your work:
This is where I believe the 2-minute rule is meant to be implemented. You could say it occurs during processing, and once you determine the next action and if it's two minutes or less, then doing it is "technically" the doing phase. I wouldn't get too hung up on whether it falls under processing or engaging (doing) phase. It's going to get done so it doesn't really care what stage it lives in. Where I would be careful is saying that the two-minute rule applies during capture. When you decide to either do something, or capture it, is when you're living in "doing-work-as-it-shows-up land", and as I said above, you can either do it or not depending on whether you want to. But don't feel compelled to do the two-minute item when it shows up because of the "two-minute rule".

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A nuance on #2 and #3, sometimes doing work as it shows up and defining your work seem to overlap. For example, when I'm around my house, I'm surrounded by "work that shows up" in the form of toys needing to be picked up, laundry, dishes, etc. I sometimes will do the two minute item when it shows up as a one-off, but I also like to think of "picking up" or "doing the dishes" or "folding laundry" as clearing an inbox and is therefore "defining my work". Each item needs to be picked up and "processed". If there is not action, I need to metaphorically "file it" by putting it in the toy bin, or in the dishwasher, or the clothes drawer. (This is akin to Dana K. White's decluttering "take-it-there-now" method.) Once in a while there is a next action when processing like "I need to iron this shirt before I can wear it". So I capture it. I've had great success in thinking of decluttering as "clearing an inbox", and applying the two-minute rule accordingly.
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@CamJPete

Thank you very much for your very good and very insightful GTD Threefold Model of work analysis

Thank you very much
 
cfoley said:
Oh no. I've been doing the 2 minute rule incorrectly for the last 10 years.

I thought it applied at the processing level. When processing an item from the inbox, if it is actionable and can be completed in 2 minutes then I thought it should just be done at that point.

When I reread the section yesterday, it became clear that it applies at the next action level. Any time a next action could be completed in 2 minutes, then just do it instead of writing it down. So, this includes when processing but also every other time I could write down a next action.

Honestly, I have had so much benefit from the 2 minute rule with my incorrect understanding that I can't wait to reap the rewards of it being applied properly. I'm just sad that my GTD clock has been reset. Now I can only claim to have been doing GTD for one day.

Is there anything fundamental that you have misunderstood about GTD that you only realised months or years after you began?
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"I thought it applied at the processing level. When processing an item from the inbox, if it is actionable and can be completed in 2 minutes then I thought it should just be done at that point." what you thought the 2 minute rule just applied to emails?

It could apply to anything in real life - right?
 
There’s some good stuff here.

There’s too much focus on the word “rule”: it’s effort versus reward. If the effort of putting it in your system is anywhere near the effort it takes to do it, then just do it, with the caveat if you can (context).

It doesn’t matter when it occurs.
 
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