The “Second Time Rule”: A Gentle Hack for Getting Stuff Done

Here’s a short, sweet one for your Sunday (it’s raining here in the UK, naturally 🌧️)

This is one of those tiny mindset tweaks that just kind of appeared in my life. I didn’t read it in a book or hear it on a podcast—it just emerged from the busyness, like so many good little tricks do. And it’s been so helpful for me, that I figured I’d share it with all of you!

Like most people, I sometimes fall into patterns without really noticing them. But I think one difference now—after half a lifetime spent hoovering up self-help books, dabbling in neuroscience and psychology, and running constant experiments on myself—is that I do notice. I catch the patterns quicker. And these days, they tend to lean more helpful than harmful (though rest assured, those sneaky self-sabotaging habits still try to sneak from time to time).

So here’s the trick:

If I notice something that needs doing—around the house, in my work, in life—I ask myself: “Is this the second time I’ve noticed it?” If yes? I do the thing, right then and there.

Simple as that.

Image from Pixabay

I didn’t set out to do this—it just sort of evolved. But once I clocked it, I realised why it works so well for me: it gives me flexibility.

See, I’ve tried being one of those “do it now” people. And sometimes, sure, that works. But other times? It feels like bullying yourself. Like every time you spot something—anything—it has to be dealt with immediately, no matter what you were in the middle of.

That can be a recipe for chaos. Or procrastination-disguised-as-productivity. Or just a general feeling of not being in control of your own time.

The “second time rule” gives me grace. It builds in just enough friction to stop me dropping everything on a whim, but not so much that stuff gets ignored indefinitely.

Sometimes I see something that needs doing and I’ve got the time, the energy, and no resistance to it—so I just get on with it.

But other times, I realise I’m using it as a distraction. Maybe I’m avoiding something hard, or I’m mid-task and my brain’s looking for an escape hatch. That’s when I clock it, leave it, and come back the second time.

And more often than not, by then I’ve got the headspace to just get it sorted.

It’s not revolutionary. It won’t change your life overnight. But it’s a gentle, sustainable way of staying on top of things without turning into a joyless productivity robot. And it’s another tool in your self-help toolkit you can try with very little effort.

So, the next time you notice something that needs doing, ask yourself:

“Is this the second time (or more) I’ve noticed this?”

If it is, go do it.

If not, carry on.

And that’s all from me today—short and sweet (I’m definitely one of those things… I’ll let you guess which).

I’d love to know:

Is this something you’d try? Or do you already have your own version of this rule?