If you can do it in one minute, do it now.

This simple rule eliminates the mental overhead that kills productivity. Tasks under one minute—responding to that text, filing that document, washing that dish—accumulate in your mind like open browser tabs consuming RAM.

The one-minute rule cuts through decision paralysis. Instead of weighing whether to do something small now or later, you remove the choice entirely. The time it takes to decide is often longer than the task itself.

Start with emails that need quick responses. Then expand to physical clutter around your workspace. The momentum builds naturally—each completed micro-task creates space for bigger thinking.

Your future self will thank you for the mental clarity that comes from a mind unburdened by trivial tasks.