I’ve learned that a surprising number of things I put off take about five minutes.

Sending the email.

Making the phone call.

Putting the thing back where it belongs.

Updating the page I’ve been meaning to update for three days.

None of these things are particularly difficult. But somehow, once they make it onto the mental list of “things I need to do,” they start getting heavier.

The email becomes an email.

The phone call becomes a phone call I really need to make.

And by Thursday, I’ve spent s lot more time remembering that I need to do something than it would have taken to actually do it.

So I’ve been trying something simple.

If I notice something that needs to be done and I can reasonably finish it in about five minutes, I just do it.

Not later.

Not when I have a better system.

Not after I reorganize my entire to-do list.

Just now.

I’m not particularly consistent at it yet. There are currently several things within arm’s reach of me that would provide evidence for the prosecution. (lol)

But when I remember to do it, it works.

Sometimes the best productivity system isn’t a system at all.

Sometimes you just need to send the email.