Tried a 15 minute timer for small repair jobs and got 3 times as much done

I set a timer for 15 minutes before tackling a squeaky cabinet hinge last Tuesday instead of letting it drag out. Finished the hinge, tightened two drawer pulls, and even wiped down the hardware in that time. Has anyone else tried time-boxing small home fixes and seen a difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wyatt1mo ago

Timers totally changed how I tackle random house stuff too.

averymartin1mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah I read that book about habit stacking and it mentioned the same timer trick. @the_wyatt it's wild how just setting 10 minutes makes you actually start a chore you've been avoiding for weeks. I do it for putting away laundry now, seems way less awful when you know it's only a short burst.

rosebarnes1mo ago

I caught a podcast where this therapist talked about the "2 minute rule" and it's basically the same idea. If a task takes less than 120 seconds, just DO it right then and there. But for bigger stuff she said set a 5 minute timer instead of 10. Five minutes feels more like a cheat code because it's barely enough time to get annoyed. I use it for unloading the dishwasher now and it's crazy how often I finish the whole thing before the timer even goes off.