what is the 10 minute homework rule

Too much homework: Should we apply the ’10-minute rule’ strictly?

It can seem unthinkable to ascribe just 10 minutes of homework per day to students.

In countries like Singapore where the pursuit of top grades is intense, 15-year-old students are assigned 9.4 hours of homework weekly, according to data from the OECD. Teens in Shanghai spend the most hours per week on homework (14 hours) globally.

On the other extreme end of the spectrum, high school students in Finland get less than three hours of homework per week.

But in the US, the standard for decades has been the “10-minute rule,” a guideline supported by both the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the National Education Association.

This rule recommends that students are assigned a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level. This mean that a third-grader, for example, should do 30 minutes of homework each night. When they reach high school, this goes up to about two hours each night.

Proposed by Harris Cooper of Duke University, the leading researcher on homework, middle-school students are recommended to do take on 90 minutes per day of homework – this is the optimal figure to enhance their academic achievement. For high school students, they should aim for 90 minutes to two and a half hours per day.

OECD data show 15-year-olds are assigned 6.1 hours of homework per week. This largely corresponds with a 2003 research from the Brookings Institution and the Rand Corporation.

The research had found that despite popular assumption, the majority of students in US schools only spend less than an hour a day on homework. This figure applies regardless of grade level and has been so for most of the past five decades, according to research from the Brookings Institution.

“Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree.” Here’s what the research shows for different grade levels. https://t.co/s3MLK1Uj8n — edutopia (@edutopia) September 28, 2019

In the updated 2014 version , research again shows “little evidence that the homework load has increased for the average student” despite news reports depicting students are now burdened by so much homework that their health and well-being are under attack. Those assigned more than two hours of homework per night are a minority, the research found.

“In national polls, parents are more likely to say their children have too little homework than too much.  And a solid majority says the amount of their children’s homework is about right,” the report said.

For the minority who are struggling with too much homework daily, studies show this would cause them more harm than good.

When middle school students were assigned more than 90-100 minutes of homework daily, they ended up performing worse on maths and science, one 2015 study found. It could also be counter-productive once fatigue, stress, and a loss of interest in academics set in.

But all this focus on numbers should not distract us from the quality of homework set. Different students have different capabilities. Struggling students – or  economically disadvantaged ones  – may end up taking twice as much time to complete an assignment compared to a more able peer.

Writing in Education Next , Janine Bempechat, a clinical professor of human development at the Boston University defined high-quality homework as: “Assignments that are developmentally appropriate and meaningful and that promote self-efficacy and self-regulation. Meaningful homework is authentic, allowing students to engage in solving problems with real-world relevance. More specifically, homework tasks should make efficient use of student time and have a clear purpose connected to what they are learning.”

More quality in homework also makes students believe in their competence when they accomplish something, especially for struggling students.

“Students whose teachers have trained them to adopt strategies such as goal setting, self-monitoring, and planning develop a number of personal assets—improved time management, increased self-efficacy, greater effort and interest, a desire for mastery, and a decrease in helplessness,” Bempechat wrote.

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The 10-Minute Rule: A Productivity Game-Changer

This guide will walk you through the essential elements of using 10 minute rule - the productivity method to keep your team productive and engaged.

In today's fast-paced world, finding effective ways to maximize productivity is essential. The 10-minute rule is a simple yet powerful strategy that can revolutionize the way individuals approach tasks and time management. In this article, we will delve into the origins, application, and benefits of the 10-minute rule, as well as provide actionable steps and tips for integrating this technique into your daily routine.

What is the 10-Minute Rule in the Context of Productivity?

The concept of the 10-minute rule revolves around breaking down tasks into manageable 10-minute increments to overcome procrastination and inertia. Rather than being overwhelmed by the enormity of a task, individuals commit to working on it for just 10 minutes. This approach aims to eliminate the mental barriers and resistance often associated with initiating a task, ultimately leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

Embracing the Power of Micro-Productivity

The 10-minute rule is rooted in the philosophy of micro-productivity, which emphasizes the impact of small, consistent efforts on overall task completion. By focusing on short bursts of activity, individuals can build momentum and tackle tasks in a manner that aligns with natural cognitive tendencies.

The idea behind the 10-minute rule is not to complete an entire task in 10 minutes, but rather to initiate the process and leverage the psychological advantage of getting started. The rule empowers individuals to bypass the mental obstacles that often hinder task initiation and progress, promoting a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

The Origin of the 10-Minute Rule

The 10-minute rule has its origins in behavioral psychology and time management principles. It draws inspiration from the Zeigarnik Effect , a psychological phenomenon that suggests people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones. This effect underscores the importance of initiating tasks, as the human brain tends to retain and prioritize incomplete activities.

The Zeigarnik Effect in Action

Bluma Zeigarnik, a Lithuanian psychologist, first documented the Zeigarnik Effect in the 1920s after observing that waiters could remember complex orders only until the bills were paid. Once the task was completed, the details faded from memory. Zeigarnik then conducted experiments which revealed that individuals had better recollection of incomplete tasks compared to those they had finished.

The Zeigarnik Effect serves as a foundational principle for the 10-minute rule, highlighting the cognitive impact of initiating tasks and the motivation it fosters.

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Who is the 10-Minute Rule For?

The 10-minute rule is a versatile strategy that can benefit a wide spectrum of individuals across various domains. It is particularly advantageous for:

• Students : Overcoming studying procrastination and enhancing focus.
• Professionals : Breaking down daunting projects into manageable segments.
• Entrepreneurs : Boosting productivity in the face of multiple tasks and responsibilities.
• Creatives : Overcoming creative blocks and generating momentum for artistic endeavors.

Unlocking Potential Across Diverse Settings

The 10-minute rule offers a universal approach to combating inertia, making it applicable to individuals grappling with a myriad of challenges. Whether it's tackling academic assignments, meeting professional deadlines, or pursuing personal projects, the rule can serve as a catalyst for progress and achievement.

Pros and Cons of the 10-Minute Rule

• Overcoming Procrastination : By committing to just 10 minutes of focused work, individuals can circumvent the temptation to procrastinate and initiate tasks.
• Building Momentum : The rule facilitates the development of momentum, leading to prolonged and productive work sessions beyond the initial 10 minutes.
• Reducing Overwhelm : Breaking tasks into smaller segments can alleviate feelings of overwhelm and help individuals approach challenges with greater confidence.
• Potential Interruptions : Short bursts of work may be susceptible to interruptions, hindering sustained focus.
• Task Fragmentation : Dividing tasks into 10-minute increments may lead to disjointed progress, affecting the coherence of work.

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How to Get Started with the 10-Minute Rule

Commit to the process.

To implement the 10-minute rule effectively, it's essential to commit to the process and remain consistent in its application. Here's a step-by-step guide to get started:

Step 1: Identify a Task

Select a task or project that you've been delaying or find particularly challenging. It could be an assignment, a work project, or a personal endeavor.

Step 2: Set a Timer for 10 Minutes

Use a timer or a stopwatch to allocate a specific 10-minute slot for working on the chosen task.

Step 3: Start Working

Initiate the timer and invest your full focus and effort into the task for the entire 10-minute duration.

Step 4: Reflect on Progress

Once the 10-minute window elapses, take a moment to acknowledge any progress made. Assess whether you feel motivated to continue or whether you've overcome the initial inertia.

Step 5: Evaluate Next Steps

Based on your reflection, decide whether to continue for another 10 minutes or take a short break before resuming. The key is to maintain a sense of momentum and build on the initial effort.

Actionable Tips for Embracing the 10-Minute Rule

Do's and dont's.

When adopting the 10-minute rule, certain guidelines can enhance its effectiveness. Here's a breakdown of key do's and don'ts:

By adhering to these pointers, individuals can maximize the benefits of the 10-minute rule while minimizing potential pitfalls.

The 10-minute rule offers a compelling framework for overcoming procrastination, enhancing productivity, and fueling progress. By leveraging the psychological dynamics of task initiation and the Zeigarnik Effect, individuals can chart a transformative path towards heightened efficiency and achievement.

Embrace the Power of Initiation

Initiating a task is often the most formidable hurdle to conquer. The 10-minute rule presents an effective mechanism for surmounting this obstacle and sowing the seeds of sustained productivity.

Incorporating this strategy into your daily routine has the potential to yield substantial long-term benefits, supporting you in conquering challenges, actualizing goals, and embracing a more empowered approach to time management.

How can the 10-minute rule benefit individuals with busy schedules?

The 10-minute rule is particularly beneficial for individuals with packed schedules as it provides a manageable entry point for engaging with tasks. By breaking activities into bite-sized segments, the rule accommodates even the most demanding of agendas, effectively empowering individuals to make meaningful progress amid their busy routines.

Is the 10-minute rule applicable to complex, long-term projects?

Absolutely. Although the 10-minute rule revolves around short bursts of activity, its impact extends to complex, long-term projects. By consistently dedicating 10-minute intervals to these endeavors, individuals can incrementally chip away at larger tasks, preventing them from feeling insurmountable and maintaining a steady cadence of progress.

How can the 10-minute rule mitigate task-related stress and anxiety?

The 10-minute rule can alleviate task-related stress and anxiety by reframing the approach to work. Instead of fixating on the daunting nature of a task, individuals focus on the immediate 10-minute window, minimizing feelings of overwhelm and creating a sense of manageability. This shift in perspective fosters a more positive and proactive mindset, reducing stress levels and enhancing overall well-being.

Can the 10-minute rule be adapted for collaborative or team-based projects?

Absolutely. The flexibility of the 10-minute rule allows for seamless integration into collaborative or team-based projects. By aligning team members with the concept and encouraging the collective adoption of the rule, groups can leverage its momentum-building effects to propel shared endeavors and optimize productivity within a collaborative framework.

How does the 10-minute rule align with long-term goal setting and achievement?

Despite its focus on short-term activity, the 10-minute rule can significantly contribute to long-term goal setting and achievement. By consistently dedicating 10-minute intervals to tasks that align with broader objectives, individuals create a habit of progress, steadily propelling themselves closer to their overarching aspirations. The rule thereby serves as a foundational pillar in the pursuit of sustained achievement.

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Homework: A New User's Guide

Cory Turner

If you made it past the headline, you're likely a student, concerned parent, teacher or, like me, a nerd nostalgist who enjoys basking in the distant glow of Homework Triumphs Past (second-grade report on Custer's Last Stand, nailed it!).

Whoever you are, you're surely hoping for some clarity in the loud, perennial debate over whether U.S. students are justifiably exhausted and nervous from too much homework — even though some international comparisons suggest they're sitting comfortably at the average.

Well, here goes. I've mapped out six, research-based polestars that should help guide you to some reasonable conclusions about homework.

How much homework do U.S. students get?

The best answer comes from something called the National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP . In 2012, students in three different age groups — 9, 13 and 17 — were asked, "How much time did you spend on homework yesterday?" The vast majority of 9-year-olds (79 percent) and 13-year-olds (65 percent) and still a majority of 17-year-olds (53 percent) all reported doing an hour or less of homework the day before.

Another study from the National Center for Education Statistics found that high school students who reported doing homework outside of school did, on average, about seven hours a week.

If you're hungry for more data on this — and some perspective — check out this exhaustive report put together last year by researcher Tom Loveless at the Brookings Institution.

An hour or less a day? But we hear so many horror stories! Why?

The fact is, some students do have a ton of homework. In high school we see a kind of student divergence — between those who choose or find themselves tracked into less-rigorous coursework and those who enroll in honors classes or multiple Advanced Placement courses. And the latter students are getting a lot of homework. In that 2012 NAEP survey, 13 percent of 17-year-olds reported doing more than two hours of homework the previous night. That's not a lot of students, but they're clearly doing a lot of work.

Source: Met Life Survey of the American Teacher, The Homework Experience, 2007. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

That also tracks with a famous survey from 2007 — from MetLife — that asked parents what they think of their kids' homework load. Sixty percent said it was just right. Twenty-five percent said their kids are getting too little. Just 15 percent of parents said their kids have too much homework.

Research also suggests that the students doing the most work have something else in common: income. "I think that the debate over homework in some ways is a social class issue," says Janine Bempechat, professor of human development at Wheelock College. "There's no question that in affluent communities, children are really over-taxed, over-burdened with homework."

But the vast majority of students do not seem to have inordinate workloads. And the ones who do are generally volunteering for the tough stuff. That doesn't make it easier, but it does make it a choice.

Do we know how much homework students in other countries are doing?

Sort of. Caveats abound here. Education systems and perceptions of what is and isn't homework can vary remarkably overseas. So any comparison is, to a degree, apples-to-oranges (or, at least, apples-to-pears). A 2012 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development pegged the U.S. homework load for 15-year-olds at around six hours per week. That's just above the study's average. It found that students in Hong Kong are also doing about six hours a week. Much of Europe checks in between four and five hours a week. In Japan, it's four hours. And Korea's near the bottom, at three hours.

Source: OECD, PISA 2012 Database, Table IV.3.48. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

How much homework is too much?

Better yet, how much is just right? Harris Cooper at Duke University has done some of the best work on homework. He and his team reviewed dozens of studies, from 1987 to 2003, looking for consensus on what works and what doesn't. A common rule of thumb, he says, is what's called the 10-minute rule. Take the child's grade and multiply by 10. So first-graders should have roughly 10 minutes of homework a night, 40 minutes for fourth-graders, on up to two hours for seniors in high school. A lot of of schools use this. Even the National PTA officially endorses it.

Homework clearly improves student performance, right?

Not necessarily. It depends on the age of the child. Looking over the research, there's little to no evidence that homework improves student achievement in elementary school. Then again, the many experts I spoke with all said the same thing: The point of homework in those primary grades isn't entirely academic. It's about teaching things like time-management and self-direction.

But, by high school the evidence shifts. Harris Cooper's massive review found, in middle and high school, a positive correlation between homework and student achievement on unit tests. It seems to help. But more is not always better. Cooper points out that, depending on the subject and the age of the student, there is a law of diminishing returns. Again, he recommends the 10-minute rule.

What kinds of homework seem to be most effective?

This is where things get really interesting. Because homework should be about learning, right? To understand what kinds of homework best help kids learn, we really need to talk about memory and the brain.

Let's start with something called the spacing effect . Say a child has to do a vocabulary worksheet. The next week, it's a new worksheet with different words and so on. Well, research shows that the brain is better at remembering when we repeat with consistency, not when we study in long, isolated chunks of time. Do a little bit of vocabulary each night, repeating the same words night after night.

Similarly, a professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, Henry "Roddy" Roediger III , recommends that teachers give students plenty of little quizzes, which he says strengthen the brain's ability to remember. Don't fret. They can be low-stakes or no-stakes, says Roediger: It's the steady recall and repetition that matter. He also recommends, as homework, that students try testing themselves instead of simply re-reading the text or class notes.

There's also something known as interleaving . This is big in the debate over math homework. Many of us — myself included — learned math by focusing on one concept at a time, doing a worksheet to practice that concept, then moving on.

Well, there's evidence that students learn more when homework requires them to choose among multiple strategies — new and old — when solving problems. In other words, kids learn when they have to draw not just from what they learned in class that day but that week, that month, that year.

One last note: Experts agree that homework should generally be about reinforcing what students learned in class (this is especially true in math). Sometimes it can — and should — be used to introduce new material, but here's where so many horror stories begin.

Tom Loveless, a former teacher, offers this advice: "I don't think teachers should ever send brand-new material that puts the parent in the position of a teacher. That's a disaster. My own personal philosophy was: Homework is best if it's material that requires more practice but they've already received initial instruction."

Or, in the words of the National PTA: "Homework that cannot be done without help is not good homework."

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What’s the Right Amount of Homework?

Decades of research show that homework has some benefits, especially for students in middle and high school—but there are risks to assigning too much.

Many teachers and parents believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts learned in class. Others see homework as disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree. Students in high school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less.

The National PTA and the National Education Association support the “ 10-minute homework guideline ”—a nightly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. But many teachers and parents are quick to point out that what matters is the quality of the homework assigned and how well it meets students’ needs, not the amount of time spent on it.

The guideline doesn’t account for students who may need to spend more—or less—time on assignments. In class, teachers can make adjustments to support struggling students, but at home, an assignment that takes one student 30 minutes to complete may take another twice as much time—often for reasons beyond their control. And homework can widen the achievement gap, putting students from low-income households and students with learning disabilities at a disadvantage.

However, the 10-minute guideline is useful in setting a limit: When kids spend too much time on homework, there are real consequences to consider.

Small Benefits for Elementary Students

As young children begin school, the focus should be on cultivating a love of learning, and assigning too much homework can undermine that goal. And young students often don’t have the study skills to benefit fully from homework, so it may be a poor use of time (Cooper, 1989 ; Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). A more effective activity may be nightly reading, especially if parents are involved. The benefits of reading are clear: If students aren’t proficient readers by the end of third grade, they’re less likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school (Fiester, 2013 ).

For second-grade teacher Jacqueline Fiorentino, the minor benefits of homework did not outweigh the potential drawback of turning young children against school at an early age, so she experimented with dropping mandatory homework. “Something surprising happened: They started doing more work at home,” Fiorentino writes . “This inspiring group of 8-year-olds used their newfound free time to explore subjects and topics of interest to them.” She encouraged her students to read at home and offered optional homework to extend classroom lessons and help them review material.

Moderate Benefits for Middle School Students

As students mature and develop the study skills necessary to delve deeply into a topic—and to retain what they learn—they also benefit more from homework. Nightly assignments can help prepare them for scholarly work, and research shows that homework can have moderate benefits for middle school students (Cooper et al., 2006 ). Recent research also shows that online math homework, which can be designed to adapt to students’ levels of understanding, can significantly boost test scores (Roschelle et al., 2016 ).

There are risks to assigning too much, however: A 2015 study found that when middle school students were assigned more than 90 to 100 minutes of daily homework, their math and science test scores began to decline (Fernández-Alonso, Suárez-Álvarez, & Muñiz, 2015 ). Crossing that upper limit can drain student motivation and focus. The researchers recommend that “homework should present a certain level of challenge or difficulty, without being so challenging that it discourages effort.” Teachers should avoid low-effort, repetitive assignments, and assign homework “with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting autonomous, self-directed learning.”

In other words, it’s the quality of homework that matters, not the quantity. Brian Sztabnik, a veteran middle and high school English teacher, suggests that teachers take a step back and ask themselves these five questions :

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More benefits for high school students, but risks as well.

By the time they reach high school, students should be well on their way to becoming independent learners, so homework does provide a boost to learning at this age, as long as it isn’t overwhelming (Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). When students spend too much time on homework—more than two hours each night—it takes up valuable time to rest and spend time with family and friends. A 2013 study found that high school students can experience serious mental and physical health problems, from higher stress levels to sleep deprivation, when assigned too much homework (Galloway, Conner, & Pope, 2013 ).

Homework in high school should always relate to the lesson and be doable without any assistance, and feedback should be clear and explicit.

Teachers should also keep in mind that not all students have equal opportunities to finish their homework at home, so incomplete homework may not be a true reflection of their learning—it may be more a result of issues they face outside of school. They may be hindered by issues such as lack of a quiet space at home, resources such as a computer or broadband connectivity, or parental support (OECD, 2014 ). In such cases, giving low homework scores may be unfair.

Since the quantities of time discussed here are totals, teachers in middle and high school should be aware of how much homework other teachers are assigning. It may seem reasonable to assign 30 minutes of daily homework, but across six subjects, that’s three hours—far above a reasonable amount even for a high school senior. Psychologist Maurice Elias sees this as a common mistake: Individual teachers create homework policies that in aggregate can overwhelm students. He suggests that teachers work together to develop a school-wide homework policy and make it a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year.

Parents Play a Key Role

Homework can be a powerful tool to help parents become more involved in their child’s learning (Walker et al., 2004 ). It can provide insights into a child’s strengths and interests, and can also encourage conversations about a child’s life at school. If a parent has positive attitudes toward homework, their children are more likely to share those same values, promoting academic success.

But it’s also possible for parents to be overbearing, putting too much emphasis on test scores or grades, which can be disruptive for children (Madjar, Shklar, & Moshe, 2015 ). Parents should avoid being overly intrusive or controlling—students report feeling less motivated to learn when they don’t have enough space and autonomy to do their homework (Orkin, May, & Wolf, 2017 ; Patall, Cooper, & Robinson, 2008 ; Silinskas & Kikas, 2017 ). So while homework can encourage parents to be more involved with their kids, it’s important to not make it a source of conflict.

How Much Academic Homework Is Too Much?

Creating a homework habit is the key to educational success..

Posted March 19, 2015

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Harris Cooper, professor of psychology at Duke, reviewed more than 60 studies regarding the amount of time a child might do homework to achieve the optimal results. In a paper, published in 2006, he recommended that this time was 10 to 20 minutes per grade in school. In theory, a second grader would be expected to sit, distraction free, for 20 minutes, while a sixth grader would have approximately 60 minutes allocated for homework.

The 10 Minute Standard

• First grade: 10 to 20 minutes of homework
• Second grade: 20 minutes of homework
• Fourth grade: 40 minutes of homework
• Sixth grade : 60 minutes of homework
• Ninth through twelfth grades: 90 to 120 minutes of homework

It sounds relatively simple, until you consider the way homework is assigned. Dr. Robert M. Pressman—the lead researcher at the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology and a co-author of The Learning Habit: A Groundbreaking Approach to Homework and Parenting That Helps Our Children Succeed in School and in Life — explains the problem.

"Just because the PTA and NEA support the 10 minutes rule, it doesn’t mean that teachers assign only 10 minutes’ worth of homework a night per grade."

As one third grade teacher I interviewed commented, “All children work at a different pace. I typically assign a worksheet. As long as a student is trying, that’s what matters. Completion should not be the goal, especially with new material.”

Pressman admits that homework stress is less about the way homework is assigned and more about the way parents administer it.

“Parents are not given any instruction on how to handle homework. It’s taken for granted that they understand how—presumably based on their own education . That’s ridiculous. Homework has changed dramatically over the past two decades!” Pressman says.

He makes a valid point. My own children will never stand in the library searching through a card catalog. They've never heard of the Dewey Decimal System. They’ll never learn cursive handwriting or enter their answers in a blue examination booklet.

Pressman recommends parents establish a healthy homework habit. The homework habit is based not only on research but also on interviews with elementary and middle-school teachers across the United States who have been actively involved in the development and implementation of their school’s Common Core curriculum.

Teachers universally agreed that children should spend only 10 minutes per grade on homework and then stop. Not a single teacher interviewed felt that a child should spend more time than that on homework. Adopting a developmentally appropriate amount of time to spend on homework— during the school year— is the key to a balanced routine. Pressman says this is where parents often look to him for guidance.

“They usually ask, ‘What is normal when it comes to homework?’ But the first rule about homework is: There currently are no rules about homework. It’s incumbent upon parents to decide what is age-appropriate for their child, and then keep that habit consistent. Slowly build on it each year.”

This means that children will sit and work on an academic activity for a designated amount of time (Pressman recommends 10 minutes per grade for most children—but agrees parents should make that determination). If children don’t finish, that’s okay. If they finish early, they’ll read for the remainder of homework time.

Have plenty of books on hand and available for your child. Elementary school homework assignments can be really inconsistent. There will be many days when your child doesn’t have homework. On those days they will still read. Some days they may have a deluge of assignments, and parents will feel tempted to have children work longer. Don’t. Have them stop.

This is about forming a habit; working gradually toward a goal. When children know there is a start and a finish to a task, they relax and focus.

Perhaps the most rewarding part of the homework habit is that there is no need for a child to lie about not having homework or to rush through it. They are going to sit and work for the exact same amount of time, regardless of the volume of work assigned. They also don’t get to drag homework out by complaining. Instead, they will have to go into school the next day and deal with the consequences of their choice.

Pressman advises parents to keep teachers in the homework loop. “It’s important that parents support their children’s teachers; conveying the impression that their school assignments are not of high value is doing your child—and the teacher—a disservice.”

Homework is a close collaboration between home, school, and community. It requires a delicate balance and an absolute commitment on the part of parents and children. Most teachers are doing everything within their power to help children succeed. They are under a tremendous amount of pressure to work with new material and have been given very little guidance. With the implementation of different state standards, the classroom pace may feel rushed. This frequently results in an increase in homework assignments.

That’s why parents need a consistent homework habit. Making children spend hours on a developmentally inappropriate assignment will teach them to dislike learning and school and make them feel inadequate and angry. Having them focus for a developmentally appropriate amount of time and rewarding them for their hard work and effort is a far better system.

Copyright © Rebecca Jackson

Learn more about a balanced homework routine in Rebecca Jackson's new book, The Learning Habit .

*** The Learning Habit was selected by Parents magazine as their "MUST READ" parenting book!

Rebecca Jackson is a neuropsychological educator and the co-author of The Learning Habit

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What is the 10 Minute Rule?

Discover the 10 Minute Rule, a simple yet effective technique for overcoming procrastination and enhancing productivity by committing to just ten minutes of focused work.

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The 10 Minute Rule is a time management and productivity technique designed to help individuals overcome procrastination and kickstart their motivation towards completing tasks. By committing to work on a task for just ten minutes, individuals often find it easier to continue working beyond this initial period, thereby breaking the cycle of delay and enhancing their productivity.

Understanding the 10 Minute Rule

This rule is based on the premise that the hardest part of any task is getting started. By setting a goal to engage with a task for just ten minutes, the psychological barrier to starting is significantly lowered. This approach leverages the principle that once a task has been initiated, momentum builds, making it more likely that one will continue with the task.

The Importance of the 10 Minute Rule in Time Management

In the context of time management, the 10 Minute Rule is a powerful tool for tackling procrastination, which is often the biggest hurdle to effective time use. Procrastination not only leads to stress and anxiety but can also result in wasted time and missed opportunities. By using the 10 Minute Rule, individuals can more easily take the first step towards task completion , leading to better time utilization and increased productivity.

Implementing the 10 Minute Rule

Starting small.

Choose a task you’ve been avoiding and commit to working on it for just ten minutes. Use a timer to keep track of time, ensuring that you work continuously and with focus during this period.

Building Momentum

After the initial ten minutes, assess how you feel about continuing the task. Often, the act of starting reduces mental resistance and increases willingness to keep going.

Making It a Habit

Incorporate the 10 Minute Rule into your daily routine, applying it to different tasks you might be procrastinating on. Over time, this practice can become a habit, significantly reducing procrastination and enhancing productivity.

Practical Applications and Examples

Academic work.

Students can apply the 10 Minute Rule to start studying for exams, working on assignments, or completing readings they’ve been avoiding.

Workplace Productivity

Professionals can use the rule to begin working on challenging reports, start complex projects, or tackle their email inboxes after putting it off.

Personal Projects

For personal projects or chores, such as cleaning, exercising, or pursuing a hobby, the 10 Minute Rule can help overcome the initial resistance to getting started.

Overcoming Challenges with the 10 Minute Rule

While the 10 Minute Rule is simple in concept, individuals may still face challenges in implementing it, such as underestimating the effectiveness of just ten minutes or struggling to transition into continued work after the timer ends. To overcome these challenges, it is important to remind oneself of the successes achieved through this method and to focus on the progress made during the initial ten minutes, rather than the entirety of the task ahead.

The 10 Minute Rule is a straightforward yet powerful technique for breaking the cycle of procrastination, building momentum, and enhancing overall productivity. By committing to just ten minutes of focused effort, individuals can significantly lower the barrier to starting tasks, making it easier to progress towards completion. Whether applied to academic work, professional projects, or personal goals , the 10 Minute Rule offers a practical approach to improving time management and achieving a more productive and fulfilling life.

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10 Minute Rule highlighted in Duke University research on homework

(KFVS/CBS News) - Most students and parents have an expectation of homework, but how much homework should students have each night, and should their age factor into that?

Duke University Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Dr. Harris Cooper has been studying the benefit of homework for years. He said doing away with it completely is not a good idea.

"Studies do show even small amounts of homework help kids do better on unit tests. But they also help to begin shaping a child's time management skills, their organization," he said.

Dr. Cooper also believes homework improves self-discipline and achievement. But he cautions moderation is key.

"Teachers have a rule that they call the 10 minute rule," he said. "You take a child's grade and you multiply it by ten, and that's how much time students should be spending."

For example, a fourth grade student would have 40 minutes of homework.

Robin Broshi's son Judah is a student in the public school district in New York City. It has banned mandatory homework for grades kindergarten through fourth. She pushed for the policy after seeing how much Judah pushed back on doing the work.

"It started to become something that I spent a lot of time thinking about and obsessing about why I had to have this contentious relationship with my child about homework," said Broshi.

Judah's school does recommend that all students read about 30 minutes a nigh, something he does enjoy.

Broshi said, "there are people that want to do multiplication, flash cards with their kids – and they should, that's great. But it shouldn't be mandatory."

If you'd like to learn more about the National Education Association's policy on homework, click here .

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Copyright 2017  KFVS . All rights reserved.

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How to Use the 10 Minute Rule to Maximize Productivity

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Have you ever felt overwhelmed by job duties or struggled to start something new? 

The 10-minute rule might just be your new best friend.

In this article, we're looking into how dedicating just 10 minutes to anything can transform the way you work and live.

It's not just about managing time - it's about making it work for you.

Let's see how this simple rule can bring about big changes, as well as make your days more productive.

What is the 10 minute rule?

The basic idea behind the 10-minute rule is pretty straightforward. It's about breaking down any job or challenge into small, manageable chunks of just 10 minutes . Think of it like this: instead of looking at a big, daunting piece of work and feeling overwhelmed, you focus on just giving it a few minutes of your effort.

Here's how it works. 

Let's say you have a report to write, and it feels like a huge challenge. With the 10-minute rule, you set a timer and just start working on the report. You don't worry about finishing it or how much you need to do. You just focus on doing what you can in those 10 minutes.

The cool part is, often, once you start and the set minutes are up, you'll find that you're in the flow of things and want to keep going. 

But even if you don't, you've made some progress, which is great . And you can always come back later and do another 10-minute chunk.

This technique is effective because it helps you overcome that initial resistance or procrastination. 

It's a bit like the Pomodoro technique , where you work in short bursts, or the Eisenhower Matrix , which helps you prioritize responsibilities . But the 10-minute rule is even simpler - just set a timer and go for it.

The history of the ten minute rule

The Ten Minute Rule started in the UK House of Commons as a unique way for MPs to propose new laws.

Formally known as Standing Order No. 23, it's a parliamentary procedure in the UK House of Commons. 

It lets MPs, typically backbenchers, make their case for a new bill in a speech lasting up to ten minutes. After this, another MP may speak against it for the same duration. The House then decides if the bill should advance for a second reading. 

Now, this idea is used widely in time management, both in personal lives and at work. It's a simple yet effective way to manage time.

How does the 10 minute rule help?

This particular time management technique can really help in three ways:

A higher feeling of accomplishment

Completing your duties in small, 10-minute segments can lead to a series of small victories. 

Each time you finish a 10-minute session, you feel a sense of achievement. This is not just about ticking boxes - it's about creating a series of successful moments that build up your confidence and drive.

Work consistency

Regularly working in short bursts helps maintain a steady flow of productivity . It's easier to dedicate yourself to 10 minutes of focused work rather than hours at a stretch. This consistency is key to making progress, especially with larger, more daunting tasks.

Easy way to break down larger goals into smaller chunks

Large goals can be overwhelming, but this method helps break them down into smaller tasks. 

This approach makes it easier to start, reduces procrastination , and provides a clear path forward . Thanks to tackling a big project in these small increments, you gradually chip away at it. After that, the goal seems less intimidating and more achievable.

Why you should try the 10-minute rule with your every task

This rule is worth giving it a shot for three main reasons.

Focus on the output and not the outcome

When you use the 10-minute practice, you shift your attention to what you're doing at the moment (the output) rather than the final result (the outcome). This can reduce pressure and make duties feel more manageable.

Create new habits

Deciding to do a 10-minute task is a small, doable commitment. It's a great way to start forming new, productive habits. Once you start, it's easier to keep the momentum going.

It is harder to start than to keep going

The hardest part of any job is often just starting. The rule of ten minutes helps you overcome this barrier. When committing to just a short period, you're more likely to start. 

And once you're in motion, it's easier to continue. This approach is especially useful to overcome procrastination, as it breaks down the mental barrier of dedicating yourself to a long task.

Examples of the 10-minute rule

"Where could I apply it?" - you might be wondering.

The thing is - anywhere, really.

Here are some specific examples to inspire you:

Cleaning your room

Instead of tackling the whole room, set a timer for 10 minutes and start with one corner. This helps you stay present and concentrated, reducing the urge to procrastinate.

Writing a report

When facing a big writing task, e.g. a social media report , sit down to write for just 10 minutes. This can provide insight into the topic and make the task less overwhelming.

Commit to a 10-minute workout. It's a nice way to build a fitness habit without feeling overwhelmed. You don’t even have to go to the gym!

Set aside a timer for reading a book. This can help build a regular reading habit, making it easier to fit into a busy schedule.

How to get started?

To get started with the 10-minute method, Unrubble can help. It's an automatic time tracking software that's easy to use on any device.

With Unrubble, you can track your 10-minute tasks effortlessly. It uses advanced technology like face recognition and AI to make sure you're focused on the task at hand.

Plus, it's super user-friendly and perfect for both personal and professional use.

Start with Unrubble for free and see how it can help you stick to the 10-minute method and make the most of your time!

The perfect rule to beat procrastination today 

This a fantastic way to make big tasks feel more manageable and to keep yourself moving forward, little by little.

Plus, this rule can be used for almost anything, from cleaning your house to learning a new skill. Give it a try – you might be surprised at how much you can achieve in just 10 minutes,

Get started now - stop procrastinating. 

And don't forget to give Unrubble a try .

How does the 10-minute rule work?

The 10-minute rule for overcoming procrastination involves committing to work on a task for just 10 minutes, with the idea that once started, one is likely to continue beyond that time.

What is the 10-minute rule for distraction?

The 10-minute rule for distraction is a time management strategy where you focus fully on a task for 10 minutes before allowing a brief break or distraction, enhancing productivity by maintaining full focus in short bursts.

What does the 10-minute rule instruct us to do?

The 10-minute rule instructs us to start working immediately on a task ahead, even if for only 10 minutes. This method helps in beating procrastination by breaking down large projects into more manageable tasks.

What is the 2-minute productivity rule?

The 2-minute productivity rule, one of the productivity hacks, suggests that if a task can be done in two minutes or less, it should be done immediately to keep the to-do list clear and boost productivity.

What is the 15 10-minute rule?

The 15 10-minute rule is a guideline suggesting that for every 15 minutes spent on a task, spend 10 minutes focusing intently and the remaining time reviewing or planning the next steps, effectively enhancing productivity.

What is the 5-minute focus rule?

The 5-minute focus rule is a productivity technique where you devote full attention to an easy task for five minutes, which often kickstarts momentum and helps in overcoming procrastination for more complex tasks ahead.

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The 10-Minute Rule: It Seems Crazy, But it Will Revolutionize Your Productivity

Call me crazy, but I’ve always preferred sleep to caffeine. But with erratic schedules and tight deadlines, getting six or more hours of sleep per night is no easy task for a consultant—just ask any of my diet soda and coffee-addicted colleagues. Between a demanding job and an even more demanding home life, I’ve spent a lot of time trying various productivity hacks to squeeze as much as I can out of each day.

My favorite tool for getting things done? The 10-minute timer on my phone.

My “10-minute rule” is pretty straightforward: Every task on your to-do list should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. If it takes longer than 10 minutes, then you should have broken it down into smaller tasks or delegated it to someone else. The key to this rule is in enforcing it, which means setting the timer on your phone to go off at the 10-minute mark. The level of speed and focus that this brings to your day is nothing short of astounding.

When I first challenge my teams to put the 10-minute rule into action, I am typically met with skepticism. Questions like, “That’s crazy—can I really build this big Excel model in 10-minute increments?” and “Are you telling me that you do this in your home life too, taking 10-minute showers and doing 10-minute workouts?” abound. (The answer to both of these questions, by the way, is “yes!”)

Want to give it a try? Here are three tips for making the 10-minute rule work for you.

1. Delegate

By far, the most effective means of finding additional time in your day is to outsource the things on your to-do list that someone else can easily do in 10 minutes or less. For example, I have a very successful and revered colleague who claims that a linchpin of his success is that he “says ‘yes’ to everything, but only actually performs the tasks that only he can do best.” Everything else, he delegates .

Delegating is not as easy as it sounds. It can be difficult to let go of a task when you fear that another person’s work won’t be as good as your own. It’s helpful to remember that “done is better than perfect,” and the only way you are going to move ahead in your career is if you let go of the things you’ve mastered and take on new challenges. Another mindset shift that helped me was realizing that delegating creates opportunities for others. Now I actively think about what tasks and projects I can create for my team that will help them learn, grow, and advance their careers (which conveniently helps clear up my plate as well). (Here are a few more delegating tips .)

One of the challenges I see most with people who have trouble delegating—especially those in entry-level positions—is that they forget that they can and should delegate up. If you feel uncomfortable asking a supervisor or superior to do something, try this: Start by pointing out what you are doing, and position your “ask” as a request for help. For example, instead of, “I need you to call the team leads,” you could say “I’m working on pulling the data for this analysis—would it be possible for you to help me by calling the other team leads?”

As a manager, I can tell you that I too often find myself begging my teams to delegate something up to me, and I love it when they create opportunities for me to help.

2. Find the Easy, 10-Minute Task

You may be skeptical at first, but by simply changing how you frame your tasks, you will see that just about everything can be broken down into 10-minute tasks. Do you need to research a new topic? Start with 10 minutes on Google scanning news articles, followed by 10 minutes of jotting down everything you know and the top few questions you still need to answer, and then 10 minutes each calling people to get advice on answering your open questions (bonus points if you were savvy enough to notice that the phone call is a form of delegation!).

Voilà! You have just squeezed a task that may have otherwise lingered on into hours into 30 minutes.

This approach works after hours, too. I have a colleague who was so intrigued by the 10-minute rule and how it helped her during work hours that she decided to try it at home. She took out her timer for a few mornings to time her pre-work routine, and with a 10-minute shower, 10-minute breakfast, etc., she found that she was able to cut her standard “getting ready” time , trading it in for coveted sleep instead. She had never thought it was possible to shower in 10 minutes—until she tried it and realized it was actually pretty easy!

3. Use That Timer

Using your timer is a critical part of the rule, so don’t forget it. As everyone in the business world knows, “we do what we measure.”

This is true of the 10-minute rule as well—you must use a timer or clock to keep track of how long you are spending on things. Smartphones make this easier with their built-in timer apps, but any clock with a minute hand will do. Whatever you do, don’t guess—because if your approximately 10 minutes always becomes 20, you’re not maximizing your productivity.

Sometimes, you’ll spend less than 10 minutes on a task (more time back—yay!), and sometimes that alarm will ring and you’ll still be on the phone (no, I’m not suggesting that you just hang up when the alarm goes off). Don’t feel badly about running over—just make note of it for next time.

For example, if one co-worker tends to ramble, preface your next conversation by telling her you have 10 minutes to brainstorm. What if you really need more time? That’s fine too: Tracking your time spent will provide insight into how you work, so you can plan your day better next time.

The 10-Minute Rule in Action

One of my favorite examples of this rule in action occurred a few years ago when a team I was working on received the dreaded 4 PM phone call from a client redirecting the work that we would be presenting the following morning. Ugh, so much for a relaxing evening!

There were two big pieces of work involved, so we split our team of four in half. Each of our two sub-teams had about the same number of PowerPoint slides to revamp, with similar amounts of analysis, so it should have taken us about the same amount of time to complete.

I said to my teammate that I really wanted to finish by 6 PM so we could go get dinner, and he agreed but was doubtful about our ability to get it done. So, we tallied up the pages, divided by the two hours left in the day, and found that if we could achieve a rate of 10 minutes per page, we would have enough time to complete it—plus a buffer for anything that proved to be particularly tricky. Reenergized, we split up the pages, set the timer, and started cranking. To make a game out of it, we kept a tally on the whiteboard of how many pages each of us completed under or over the 10-minute mark.

By 6 PM, we were finished—and feeling really good about it. The other team who didn’t use the 10-minute rule? They finished around 9.

The challenge is on. For your next task today, get out your timer and try it for yourself. The clock is ticking!

Photo of timer courtesy of Shutterstock .

10 Minute Rule: Start is The Most Difficult Part, Afterwards it is Easy!

Written by Domantas Vanagas

When creating a productivity system, it is always nice to go for something simple and easy to follow. What could be easier than the 10-minute Rule? This allows you to break your day into 10-minute segments that are much easier to manage than the larger tasks you are likely dealing with right now. To know more about how to form your life into easier-to-manage segments, you need to know about the 10-minute rule technique.

The 10-Minute Rule: How It Works

The core of what the 10-minute Rule offers to you is the ability to beat procrastination. We all know how easy it is to have procrastination slip into our lives, but few of us know that we can fight back against it. One of the best things some people do for themselves is the 10-minute rule method to help them get over the hump and move through their various tasks easily.

You see, when faced with a large number of tasks, it is tempting to push some of that work aside. Getting started is the hardest part for most people, which is why the 10-minute rule method is so important.

The 10-minute Rule helps you avoid multitasking by only allowing you the ability to focus on one task at a time for 10 minutes. Get through those 10 minutes, and you can decide if you want to drop the task for something else or not. It is similar to the Pomodoro method in that you work for a sustained period before taking a break to recharge. This is the way that humans are built to get things done. If you give your mind a chance to rest and catch up, you will be surprised by how much it can do. After 10 minutes have elapsed, you will likely want to continue your task beyond that time horizon. It turns out that it was always about getting over that initial push.

Why Does The 10-Minute Rule Work?

What is it about the 10-minute Rule that s us to prioritize the tasks that need to be done first and foremost without any issues? It seems that it all comes down to getting over the initial resistance we may put up due to not wanting to do our work. Other benefits of this method include the following:

• It is easy to start using it
• It doesn’t require a lot of tools or tracking
• You notice near-immediate results
• The temptation to procrastinate can weaken over time

People like it when they see quick results from something new that they are trying, and the 10-minute rule method is great. You can stop wasting time wondering how you will get ahead and start doing the hard work necessary to make it happen. Those who use the 10-minute rule technique effectively will surely appreciate that it starts working immediately.

Example of a 10-minute Rule in action

There are many ways to follow the 10-minute Rule, but we wanted to provide the example of a student who has a great paper that they need to turn in soon. Of course, others could also use this method to prepare for a big meeting at work or a job interview. For the sake of the example of our student working on a paper, let’s call this student Josh. Josh may look at the 10-minute rule technique (similar to Elon Musk’s time-blocking idea ) and use it to take care of his paper one step at a time. It is helpful for Josh to see the little progress he can make in 10 minutes as it builds up quickly over time to help him turn this massive paper into something more manageable.

They pull themselves away from the Internet or watch Netflix long enough to put in 10 minutes of work on their paper. Suddenly, they noticed it wasn’t so bad, so they put in another 10 minutes, and then it just blossomed. This is how a chain reaction can be built that helps people get a lot more done than they might have ever imagined was possible.

3 Things To Keep In Mind With the 10-Minute Rule

There are a few things to remember when using the 10-minute Rule. You want to keep these ideas with you, so you don’t get too far off the path for what the 10-minute Rule was designed for. If you can capitalize on these ideas, then the 10-minute Rule can work for you much more effectively than it otherwise might.

1. Every Task Can Be Broken Down

There is no reason ever to take on a task in its entirety when you can break it down into smaller sub-tasks. You will feel better, and more work will get done when you use the 10-minute rule method to help break down the various parts of what you are attempting to accomplish. Look at the elements of the task that you most want to take care of first, and start working away on those to build up some momentum.

2. Be Mindful Of Your Timer

You can and should use a real timer when using the 10-minute method. Do NOT try to estimate when 10 minutes have passed. You need to know where you are with this technique and be mindful of your timer to get the best results possible. If you focus on things like that, you may see better results than anticipated.

3. Just Put The First 10 Minutes In

The biggest thing you can do for yourself is to put the first 10 minutes into your project. It sounds so simple, but those first 10 minutes lead to the momentum you need to build up if you are ever going to finish your tasks. Force yourself to do those 10 minutes if you have to. When they are done, see how you feel. The odds are pretty good that you will feel like moving on to doing another 10 minutes after that.

Virtually anyone can use the 10-minute method, and the results you can get from it are meant to be encouraging and help you propel yourself to even greater heights in the future. You certainly want to ensure you are achieving your full potential, which means using the 10-minute method to work through your daily tasks.

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Kids Receive 3 Times the Recommended Homework Load, Study Says

E lementary school children often receive far more homework than recommended by a leading education group, according to new research. The study , published in the American Journal of Family Therapy , found that the average first and second grader had three times the recommended homework load.

The National Education Association recommends that elementary school students receive 10-20 minutes of homework per night in first grade. That figure should grow by 10 minutes per year, the NEA recommends. The study found that teachers regularly assign homework that exceeds that recommendation.

The survey, based on an analysis of survey results from more than 500 parents in Rhode Island, suggests that the average student spends nearly 30 minutes on homework in the first grade, a number that grows steadily over the years. Time spent on homework peaks in 10th grade at 54 minutes per night, according to the study.

Researchers also found a disparity in homework patterns based on parents’ education level as well as a family’s racial background. On average, parents of Hispanic students said their children spent significantly more time on homework than their non-Hispanic counterparts in second, third and 12th grades.

For children with parents of different education levels, time spent on homework was consistent in early years. However, a sharp disparity emerges in high school, where children of parents with college degrees spent significantly more time on homework.

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Write to Justin Worland at [email protected]

The ten minute rule of productivity

Anne-Laure Le Cunff

In the UK, the Ten Minute Rule allows a backbench member of parliament—one that is neither part of the government nor the opposition—to make their case for a new bill in a speech lasting up to ten minutes. After the ten minutes have passed, another MP may speak for a further ten minutes to oppose the bill.

When a Ten Minute Rule motion passes, it’s added to the list of bills to be debated. It’s a practical and productive way to review issues that can affect legislation.

What would the Ten Minute Rule look like if you applied it to the way you manage your work? Let’s have a look at the Ten Minute Rule of productivity.

Stop procrastinating with the Ten Minute Rule

Metaphorically, procrastination can be seen as the result of a battle between your present self and your future self.

Scientifically, procrastination is the result of a battle between your limbic system—an older part of the brain that’s among many other functions involved in the fight or flight reaction—and your prefrontal cortex—a newer part of the brain where planning complex behaviours and making decisions happen.

Because the limbic system is much stronger, it very often wins the battle , leading to procrastination. We give our brain what feels good now and don’t do what would make us feel better later.

The Ten Minute Rule of productivity is about “tricking” your limbic system by talking yourself into getting started. Instead of focusing on the outcome, it’s about focusing on the output. Avoid overplanning and overthinking. Don’t say you’ll read a chapter of that book; say you’ll read for ten minutes. Don’t say you’ll run a 5K; say you’ll run for ten minutes. Don’t say you’ll build a new feature; say you’ll code for ten minutes.

Why does it work? Because there’s a good chance that once you get started, you’ll keep going for longer than ten minutes. When you don’t want to do something, you often build it up in your mind to be worse than it really is. But once you get started, you get to realistically appraise how long and hard the task is going to be. This process removes most of the anxiety.

Just tell yourself: “I’ll do this thing for ten minutes. Once I get to the ten-minute mark, I’ll decide whether I want to keep going.” Most of the time, you will decide to keep going long past the initial ten minutes.

The idea is to make the task as easy as possible to start. The commitment is so low, it can’t hurt to give it a try. It works even better if you give yourself a reward. “I’ll do this thing for ten minutes. Once I get to the ten-minute mark, I’ll decide whether I want to keep going. Whatever I decide, I get to have this specific reward once I don’t feel like working on this task anymore.”

Why the Ten Minute Rule works

The Ten Minute Rule is about mastering the art of showing up. It’s not about quick wins, it’s about the ripple effect of getting started. There are three main reasons why it’s so effective.

• It’s harder to start than to keep going. Putting yourself in motion when you’re procrastinating is the hardest step. Once you’ve started working on something, it’s easier to get in the flow and forget that you only committed to focus on the task for ten minutes.
• It focuses on the output and not the outcome. Reaching a goal can feel daunting. Working for ten minutes feels easier. Committing to ten minutes of work removes the pressure of “being successful” by shifting the measure of performance to something simple and controllable.
• It helps build new habits. Developing a new routine is hard. And we often make it harder by having lofty goals we can’t stick to. The Ten Minute rule is easy and repeatable, which will help you form new habits.

I personally like to use the Ten Minute Rule of productivity because it allows me to have some sort of tangible output. When I don’t feel like writing, I tell myself I’ll write for ten minutes. When I don’t feel like exercising, I tell myself I’ll go for a ten minute run.

But others have advocated for variations with different time commitments, such as James Clear’s 2-minute rule or Andrea Bonior’s 5-minute rule . The truth is that doesn’t really matter what length you feel more comfortable with, and you should definitely experiment—the principles stay the same.

Commit to a short amount of time, get started, and see if you want to keep on going past the initial few minutes. And if you do decide to stop, a few minutes are better than nothing anyway.

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Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, 10 minute rule across colleges.

Hello everyone! I've been hearing about this so-called '10-minute rule' that some colleges supposedly follow where if the professor isn't there within 10 mins of class start, you can leave without penalty. Gotta ask, how common is this? Or is it one of those college myths?

This rule, often referred to as the "10-minute rule" or "15-minute rule," depends largely on the institution and sometimes even the individual professors. Some universities have this rule as an unofficial policy, while others may not have it at all. Even then, it may vary by department or class.

I'll clarify though, most institutions, especially larger universities, don't have a formal policy in place regarding this. Often, it's more of a custom that students follow, and it's not officially recognized by the administration. Therefore, your mileage may vary.

It's a good practice to reach out to your professors at the start of the semester to understand their specific policies. Each professor may handle lateness differently, and understanding their rules upfront can help avoid misunderstandings later on.

For example, some might prefer if you email them if they're not present within a certain timeframe, while others might ask that you wait a bit longer before leaving. So, it's more about communication with your professors than a universal rule. Remember, university is also about learning to navigate different professional scenarios, and this is one of them!

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Use the 2-Minute Rule to Increase Productivity Instantly

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Have you ever finished a short task you dreaded and thought — Why didn’t I do this sooner ? 

If you don’t reply to an email right away because you think you’ll have more time or tact later, chances are you’ll postpone it for at least a few hours, if not days. 

Not only is this unprofessional, but the number of times this specific email will cross your mind and affect your attention is ridiculous. 

That’s why we want to introduce you to the 2-minute rule. 

What is the 2-minute rule and why is it important? 

Coined by David Allen in his book Getting Things Done and later widely used by productivity experts, the 2-minute rule has stood the test of time. 

According to the author, when a task arises and takes 2 minutes or less to complete, you should do it immediately. 

The rule is flexible — you can apply it to tasks that take 1, 5, or even 10 minutes.

Anyway, the point is to start . This creates momentum that keeps you going, allowing you to finish all the tasks on your to-do list. 

Most importantly, it frees you from the mental burden that comes with avoiding tasks. 

CEO and digital strategist Solomon Wiesen says the 2-minute rule acts like a psychological trick that enables you to start working on tasks instead of remaining still:

“Procrastination feeds off inertia, and the 2-minute rule acts like a jolt of energy, forcing you to take that first step. It’s like tricking your brain into saying, ‘Okay, I’ll just start with this little thing,’ and before you know it, you’re in the flow and tackling the bigger stuff too.”

💡 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP

If you’re interested in learning more about procrastination, read the following article: 

• Procrastination Guide: Why It Happens and How to Overcome it?  

2 ways to use the 2-minute rule

Let’s see how to stop procrastinating by using the 2-minute rule. 

Tackle quick tasks 

In a single workday, we complete dozens of simple and quick tasks. Whether it’s starting a timer for tracking time, replying to an email, or scheduling a meeting, these actions can be done in a matter of seconds. 

So why is it a problem if we don’t do them straight away? 

Because small tasks tend to accumulate even faster than big ones. In fact, they create a mental burden and prevent us from focusing on what’s important. 

The 2-minute rule helps prevent procrastination before it starts. If a task arises and is connected to what you’re currently doing, you should do it right away.

For example, if you’re clearing out your inbox and you come across an email that only requires a quick response or deletion, handle it immediately. 

Business owner Austin Cohen reveals that the greatest benefit of using the 2-minute rule is helping us complete all the tasks from our to-do lists:

“ The biggest advantage of the 2-minute rule is its ability to transform daunting to-do lists into manageable actions, which leads to greater productivity. ”

However, beware of handling only short tasks, as they can quickly take up much of your productive time. 

Business owner George Yang let us in on a useful method to prevent anyone from doing only short tasks — it boils down to combining 2-minute tasks with blocks of uninterrupted work:

“One of the possible cons is an overemphasis on minor tasks at the expense of more strategic work. This is countered by balancing the various 2-minute tasks well within the blocks of time dedicated to work that is more critical, deep, and focused.”

The best way to make uninterrupted work happen is to block time slots and dive into deep work. Learn more about how to do it and what are the benefits in the following blog posts:

• The Ultimate Time Blocking Guide (+ Time Blocking Apps)
• How to Engage in Deep Work and Achieve Your Goals

Tackle big tasks

Short tasks make up only a small part of our workday. Most of our time is spent on large, meaningful tasks that take hours to finish. 

But, you know what they say — A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step . 

When you break down a large task into smaller components, you’ll see that even issuing invoices to clients starts with a simple click on the “ Create Invoices ” option. 

Or, maybe you need to conduct 1:1 meetings with all your employees to give them feedback on their performance. 

Let’s say you’re managing a team of 10. First, you’ll want to check their availability in the schedule . Then, you proceed with booking meetings for each employee. 

Before each meeting, gather notes on the performance of that particular person. Add additional speaking points you think would be useful. 

Turn off the volume on your phone. If you’re having an online meeting, check whether your camera and microphone work. Have a fresh glass of water or coffee next to you.

After a series of small, practical steps taken for preparation, the meeting can start. 

You see, once you set your goals and break them into manageable chunks, all you’ve got to do is repeat the process every day, until the habit is formed. 

Specifically, according to a study about habit formation , published in the European Journal of Social Psychology , it can take between 18 and 254 days to create a habit. 

Eliminating bad habits is just as important as creating new ones. Read on to learn how time tracking can help with this:

• How Time Tracking Helps Employees Eliminate Bad Work Habits?

Examples of 2-minute tasks at work

Here’s a list of tasks you can tackle when starting to implement the 2-minute rule into your work routine: 

• Make your favorite beverage,
• Start tracking time ,
• Reply to an e-mail, 
• Water the plant on your desk,
• Tidy up your desk,
• Consult with a colleague, 
• Make a to-do list ,
• Delete non-important emails from your inbox, and
• Create invoices for your clients.

You can easily add more tasks to this list depending on the type of work you do.

The 2-minute rule is super useful when decluttering your office space. In the following article, learn how to declutter your digital space efficiently: 

• How to Declutter Your Digital Space?

How to use the 2-minute rule effectively to beat procrastination?

Here are some useful tips to beat procrastination once and for all. 

Tip #1: Strive for action, not perfection

Striving for perfection is a major cause of procrastination. Instead of spending endless time thinking about how to finish something — just start. 

Doing high-quality work is the main goal, but it shouldn’t overwhelm you. One study about perfection found that it’s been linked to anxiety and general distress. 

To reduce anxiety and desire for perfection, remember that it’s always better to take action rather than wait. 

Tip #2: Stay consistent to get the finest results

If you decide to implement the 2-minute rule into your work routine, it’s vital to do it consistently. Only then will you see the best results. 

Each morning, decide which tasks fall under this category and commit to finishing them every single day. 

Knowing the difference between important tasks and those that aren’t can put you ahead of the competition. Learn how to use the Eisenhower matrix for better time management:

• Eisenhower Matrix: Prioritize and Manage Time Better

Tip #3: Work on smaller tasks when you need a mental break

Engaging in meaningful tasks for hours can leave you exhausted. This is when you should take a mental break by switching to tasks that don’t require 100% of focus. 

That way, you’ll still be productive while giving your brain a refreshing break from more demanding work. 

Trial attorney and business owner Andrew Pickett advises business owners to pay attention to small wins as they also lead to advancement:

“My top recommendation for effectively implementing this rule in a professional environment is to encourage a cultural shift that celebrates small victories and reinforces the idea that even minimal efforts contribute to progress.”

Cons of the 2-minute rule

Let’s take a closer look at the possible disadvantages of this unique rule. 

Con #1: Focusing too much on smaller tasks can distract you from deep work

After spending an entire day on minor tasks, you may realize you haven’t been all that productive. 

While you may have done tasks that are easy and quick to do, the tasks that cause your procrastination are still unfinished. 

But, before you decide to combine different types of tasks, learn how to set SMART goals and enhance your productivity at work:

• How to Set SMART Goals (+Examples and Templates)  

Con #2: The 2-minute rule doesn’t work for all types of tasks

Finishing short tasks and starting a momentum for productivity are core features of the 2-minute rule. However, once you pass the 2-minute threshold and enter the zone of deep work, it ceases to be useful. 

Uninterrupted focus is much more significant than your task list. This is when new ideas are born and when you make decisions and take actions that will propel your business to new heights. 

One company researched top distractions at work , and the results show that employees lose 6.33 hours a week due to distractions.

While we all know that focus is important, knowing specific ways to increase it is much more useful. Read some of our blogs on focus and distractions at work: 

• How to Stay Focused at Work: 20 Effective Tips & Tricks
• How to Stay Focused When Working on a Computer  
• Effects of Workplace Distractions in 2024: Crucial Statistics

Use Clockify and the 2-minute rule for the best results

Knowing how much time you’ll spend on a certain task is the foundation of a successful organization. 

Whether it’s 2 minutes or 20 hours, tracking time spent on projects can enhance business performance and reduce stress. 

All you need now is Clockify — an easy-to-use time tracking tool with many different ways to track time:

• Set a timer — start the timer at the beginning of your shift and stop it when you’re done,
• Enter time manually — if you’ve already completed a task but want to log the time, simply enter it manually, and 
• Auto-track time — record the time spent across different apps or projects, and create time entries later. 

And the best part about Clockify is that you can use it not only for time tracking but also for: 

• Scheduling ,
• Vacation planning, and 
• Reporting .

It’s an all-in-one solution that will take your company’s productivity to the next level.

Say goodbye to procrastination. 

Tamara Pavlovic is a productivity author and researcher in love with researching and testing productivity hacks. She believes that everyone can successfully manage work-related tasks and enjoy a private life with the right productivity tools. This is why she can always be found exploring the best ways to achieve your goals.

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