How to Stop Procrastinating and Start Achieving with the 2-Day Rule

Would You Like to Master Your Habits?

Procrastination is not a sexy word.

And the meaning is even less sexy. This is what Cambridge says about it:

"Procrastinate: To keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring."

So, I have a question for you: When was the last time you did it? 

We can procrastinate in different ways:

• You can procrastinate at work.
• At gym with a fitness routine.
• During a training or learning a new skill.
• At home with personal activities.

Today we will focus on mastering the daily habits. Let me introduce you to the 2-Day Rule.

This simple strategy will help you break your procrastination circle and start moving towards your goals. 

This is how it works.

The 2-Day Rule: Explanation

The 2-Day Rule is easy to understand.

With whatever habit you're building, never allow yourself to skip more than one day in a row.

This rule is also called as the "never skip twice" rule by James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits.

There's a scientific explanation behind, proved in a study published by the European Journal of Social Psychology. 

Tips for Using This Rule

Let's assume that you're in and decided to give it a try. 

Here are 3 tips for using the 2-Day rule effectively:

• Set a schedule: Decide on a specific time and place to work on your goal. This will help you create your routine and stick to it.
• Learn from your past actions: If one day you couldn't make it, it's OK. Examine the reason and try to adapt for the next time.
• Celebrate your progress: Set your milestones for celebrating. Some examples are: first week, first month or first quarter.

Now that we have a clear idea of how it works, let's see a practical example: 

I want to build my blogging routine. 

So, I commit to never skip twice on writing at least few lines for my Blog. 

This is my calendar and the days I wrote (in red).

Would you say I followed the 2-Day Rule? YES! 

Closing Thoughts

The 2-Day Rule is simple, but is powerful for building new habits.

Don't underestimate it. 

Start using it, so you can build momentum while moving towards your objectives. This way, procrastination will never be again a stopper for building a new habit.

Did you already know about this rule? What do you think about it?

I would love to read your comments below. If you prefer you can also send me a DM on Twitter.

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