The 15 minute rule

Summary

In this TEDx talk, Caroline Buchanan introduces the '15-Minute Rule', a life-changing strategy to combat procrastination. By dedicating just 15 minutes to daunting tasks, she found herself not only starting but also enjoying them, such as tackling her tax return. The rule encourages taking action, building trust in one's ability to continue, and fostering a sense of achievement. Buchanan suggests applying this method to various tasks or life changes, emphasizing the importance of willingness and enthusiasm to achieve goals.

Takeaways

• 📝 The 15-Minute Rule: A strategy to combat procrastination by dedicating just 15 minutes to start on daunting tasks.
• 🕒 Starting Small: The idea that beginning a task with a short time commitment can make it feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
• 🎯 Goal Transition: Moving tasks from a to-do list to completion by applying the 15-minute rule.
• 🕰️ Time Management: Setting a timer for 15 minutes to focus on a task without distractions.
• 🚀 Momentum Building: How starting a task can create momentum, leading to continued progress beyond the initial 15 minutes.
• 💡 Idea to Action: The speaker used the 15-minute rule to take an idea (the rule itself) and turn it into a published book.
• 🛠️ Overcoming Avoidance: Using the rule to tackle tasks that are typically avoided, such as sorting out finances or having difficult conversations.
• 🧘‍♂️ Trust in Self: Developing trust in one's ability to start and continue tasks by setting and adhering to the 15-minute intervals.
• 🌟 Finding Joy: The process of applying the 15-minute rule can lead to increased happiness and satisfaction in accomplishing tasks.
• 🔑 Key to Success: Willingness and enthusiasm as essential elements for achieving goals, which can be regained through the 15-minute rule if lost.
• 🏔️ Persistence: The speaker's emphasis on persistence, suggesting that even God expects us to take action (with a shovel in our hands) to move mountains.

Q & A

What is the main idea of the TEDx Talk presented by Atosa Leoni?

The main idea of the TEDx Talk is to introduce the '15-Minute Rule' as a method to combat procrastination and start accomplishing tasks that one has been avoiding.

Who is Caroline Buchanan and what is her contribution to the discussion?

Caroline Buchanan is a journalist and author of the book 'The 15-Minute Rule: How to Stop Procrastinating and Take Control of Your Life'. She provides guidance on how to move goals from a to-do list to completion using her 15-minute rule.

What is the '15-Minute Rule' and how did Caroline Buchanan come up with it?

The '15-Minute Rule' is a technique where one sets a timer for 15 minutes and works on a daunting task for that duration. Caroline Buchanan invented it to help herself tackle her tax return, which she found effective in overcoming procrastination.

How did the 15-Minute Rule change Caroline Buchanan's life?

The 15-Minute Rule helped Caroline Buchanan to start tasks that she had been avoiding, such as doing her tax return. It also allowed her to enjoy the process and feel a sense of accomplishment, leading to increased happiness and productivity.

What is the psychological effect of the 15-Minute Rule on the person applying it?

The 15-Minute Rule provides a safe time frame that feels manageable and allows the person to let their imagination run freely without the fear of being overwhelmed. It also instills a sense of trust in oneself to continue the task in subsequent sessions.

How does Caroline Buchanan suggest implementing the 15-Minute Rule?

She suggests doing three sets of 15 minutes over a 3-day period. For the first two sessions, it's crucial to stop when the timer goes off, even if one is in the middle of the task, to build trust in the process. From the third session, one can continue as long as they like until they feel bored or tired.

What are the two profoundly important things mentioned by Caroline Buchanan that can enhance the effectiveness of the 15-Minute Rule?

The two profoundly important things mentioned are willingness and enthusiasm. They are essential for achieving tasks and should be sought after if one feels they are lacking.

How did Caroline Buchanan apply the 15-Minute Rule to her writing process?

Caroline Buchanan used the 15-Minute Rule to write and get her book published, demonstrating its versatility in tackling different types of tasks, including creative endeavors.

What is the significance of the phrase 'God moves mountains but he expects us to have a shovel in our hands' in the context of the talk?

The phrase signifies that while divine help or inspiration may guide us, we must also take action and contribute our efforts, just as the 15-Minute Rule encourages individuals to take the first step in their tasks.

How can the 15-Minute Rule be used to start difficult conversations or sort out personal issues?

The 15-Minute Rule can be applied to initiate difficult conversations or resolve personal issues by setting a timer for 15 minutes and starting the conversation or sorting process. The time constraint can make the task feel less daunting and more manageable.

What is the role of the organizing team at TEDx Venza and how can one find more talks like Caroline Buchanan's?

The organizing team at TEDx Venza is responsible for independently organizing the TEDx event where the talk was recorded. To find more talks like Caroline Buchanan's, one can visit ted.com/talks.

Outlines

00:00

📝 The 15-Minute Rule to Overcome Procrastination

The first paragraph introduces the concept of the '15-Minute Rule' as a method to combat procrastination and get tasks done. The speaker, Caroline Buchanan, a journalist and author, shares her personal experience with the rule, which helped her tackle daunting tasks such as doing her tax return. The rule involves setting a timer for 15 minutes and focusing solely on the task at hand during this period. Buchanan explains how this approach not only helps to initiate tasks but also reduces feelings of being overwhelmed and leads to a sense of accomplishment. She also suggests using the rule for three 15-minute sessions over three days, emphasizing the importance of stopping at the end of each session to build trust in one's ability to return to the task later.

05:01

🗝️ The Power of Willingness and Enthusiasm

In the second paragraph, the speaker emphasizes the importance of willingness and enthusiasm as key drivers for achieving goals. She encourages the audience to find or rekindle these qualities if they are missing, suggesting the use of the '15-Minute Rule' to regain them. Buchanan shares a motivational phrase about God moving mountains but expecting us to hold a shovel, symbolizing the need for personal effort. She concludes by expressing hope that the audience will be inspired to adopt the '15-Minute Rule' as a tool to make progress in their lives. The paragraph also provides information about TEDx events and how they are organized by volunteers, and it invites the audience to explore more talks on the TEDx website.

Keywords

💡To-Do List

A to-do list is a record of tasks that need to be completed, often prioritized in order of importance or urgency. In the video, the to-do list is presented as a common tool that people use to manage their tasks and responsibilities. The script mentions the difficulty of starting on certain items, which relates to the theme of procrastination and the need for the 15-minute rule to overcome this inertia.

💡Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions. The video's theme revolves around overcoming procrastination through the introduction of the 15-minute rule. Caroline Buchanan, the author, discusses how this rule helped her tackle tasks she would otherwise avoid, such as doing her tax return.

💡15-Minute Rule

The 15-Minute Rule is a strategy proposed by Caroline Buchanan to combat procrastination. It involves setting a timer for 15 minutes and committing to work on a daunting task for that duration. The rule is central to the video's message, illustrating how even a short period of focused work can lead to significant progress and a sense of accomplishment.

💡Overwhelm

Feeling overwhelmed refers to experiencing a sense of being excessively burdened or anxious by the scale of a task or situation. In the script, the author describes how the 15-Minute Rule helped remove feelings of being overwhelmed by breaking down a large task into manageable 15-minute increments.

💡Tax Return

A tax return is a document that reports income or profit to tax authorities. In the video, the author uses the task of doing her tax return as an example of a dreaded task that she was able to start and eventually enjoy by applying the 15-Minute Rule, demonstrating its effectiveness in tackling even the most unappealing tasks.

💡Admin and Paperwork

Administrative tasks and paperwork refer to the routine tasks involved in managing or organizing activities, often involving documentation. The script mentions the author's dislike for admin and paperwork, using it as a context to introduce the 15-Minute Rule as a solution for starting tasks that one might otherwise avoid.

💡Willingness

Willingness is the state or quality of being eager to do something or inclined towards a particular course of action. The video emphasizes the importance of willingness in conjunction with the 15-Minute Rule, suggesting that having the willingness to start a task is a key component in overcoming procrastination.

💡Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. The speaker in the video connects enthusiasm with willingness as crucial elements for personal achievement. She suggests that if one lacks enthusiasm, the 15-Minute Rule can be applied to rekindle it.

💡Shovel

In the context of the video, a shovel is metaphorically used to represent the tool or method one uses to make progress, in this case, the 15-Minute Rule. The phrase 'God moves mountains but he expects us to have a shovel in our hands' encapsulates the idea that while external forces may provide opportunities, it's up to individuals to take action.

💡TEDx

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. The video is part of the TEDx Talks series, which are independently organized events that aim to spread ideas worth sharing. The script mentions TEDx as part of the introduction and closing, framing the context of the presentation.

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency of productive activity within an individual or system. The 15-Minute Rule is presented in the video as a tool to increase personal productivity by breaking down tasks into manageable time slots, thereby making it easier to start and complete tasks that contribute to overall productivity.

Highlights

The 15-Minute Rule can help overcome procrastination and take control of your life.

The rule was invented to tackle tasks like doing a tax return, which the author found daunting.

By setting a timer for 15 minutes, the author found a manageable way to start daunting tasks.

The 15-Minute Rule led to feelings of accomplishment and enjoyment in completing tasks.

The author suggests using the rule for anything, from mundane chores to life-changing decisions.

The rule helped the author get their tax return done, which they previously avoided.

The author found the 15-minute increments to be a safe and contained time frame for task initiation.

The 15-Minute Rule can be applied to personal and professional aspects of life.

The author emphasizes the importance of stopping after 15 minutes to build trust in oneself to continue later.

The rule can be used to initiate difficult conversations or sort out personal issues.

The author used the 15-Minute Rule to write and publish a book about the concept.

The author suggests doing three sets of 15 minutes over three days for best results.

Stopping the task when the alarm goes off reinforces self-discipline and trust in one's ability to continue later.

The author experienced increased happiness and fulfillment from applying the 15-Minute Rule.

Willingness and enthusiasm are key components to achieving success with the 15-Minute Rule.

The author encourages finding or reigniting one's willingness and enthusiasm to achieve more.

The talk was recorded at a TEDx event in Venzone, Italy, showcasing the global impact of TEDx initiatives.

Transcripts

a quick new idea daily from the world's

greatest tedex

tots I'm your host atosa Leoni and this

is tedex

shorts we all have to-do lists but there

always seems to be some items we just

can't seem to get started on maybe it's

emptying your in box or figuring out

where the superglue is stored in your

packed

closet Caroline Buchanan is a journalist

and author of the 15minute rule how to

stop procrastinating and take control of

your life today she gives us guidance on

how to move these goals from to-do to

done I'm here to tell you about my 15

minute rule because it is absolutely

lifechanging

it has made the most enormous difference

to my life it's actually what's brought

me here today you can use my 15-minute

rule on anything or everything you can

use it on to change your career you can

use it to sort out your money I invented

the the 15-minute rule to do my tax

return and I don't like admin and

paperwork and it's not really my thing

and I would do everything to avoid it

everything and oddly enough sock pairing

became a big thing I would go to the

laundry in the bathroom and I would

gather up all the socks and sit and pair

them that felt such an important job or

I'd clean the kitchen floor anything

anything to avoid the tax return and

then one day I thought you know what

I'll give it 15 minutes so I set my

alarm and I started to prepare doing my

tax return turned on the computer that

counted as seconds in the 15 minutes

found some relevant documents went to

the filing cabinet got some more

documents rushed around looking for my

calculator wrote two columns income and

expenditure and then suddenly my alarm

went the 50 minutes was up and I felt

fantastic I can't tell you how good I

felt sort of out of all proportion to

the task and why of course I felt so

good was because I'd started it and I've

taken the nightmare out of it and I'd

taken the feelings of being overwhelmed

out of it I was enjoying it so much I

never thought I could enjoy a tax return

I tell you uh that I wanted to carry on

but something told me no I've got to

stop now and trust

myself so then the next 15 minutes I did

and the same thing and I got much

further on than I Poss could possibly

have thought I would but again I stopped

after 50 minutes and then I thought this

you know this really works this really

works I started trying to do it on other

things I used it to sort out my wardrobe

I used it to have a difficult

conversation with somebody and and then

I thought you know what there's a

there's a book in this and there was and

there is and I used my 50-minute rule to

get it published so this is how you do

it so you can use it as I said on

anything or everything you can use it to

do all those horrible jobs you've left

undone but you can also use it to create

a wonderful new life for yourself to

make those dreams come true true so set

that timer on your phone and start your

15 minute rule you are what you do not

what you say you'll

do

the other joys of it are that when you

do that 15

minutes it's it's it's like a real safe

time frame and you feel

contained and you're free to let your

imagination run away with you and you

don't have to sense yourself you can

just get on and do it and you will be

amazed because 15 minutes is short

enough to be manageable but it's long

enough to achieve something very

worthwhile now the best way as I say to

work it is I suggest you do three lots

of 15 minutes over a 3-day

period the first two it's very very

important that you stop when your alarm

goes off even if you're gagging to go on

even if you think I'm really into this

now it be mad to stop I'm good no no no

you have to give yourself the message

you trust yourself it's so important

from the third 15 minutes you can carry

on as long as you like but the minute

you get bored tired or fed up you know

then stop and just 15 minutes next time

I am so passionate about this as as as

you can tell and I have as a result of

doing this I have

become oh so much happier I can't tell

you I just want to add the importance of

two

profoundly important things willingness

and enthusiasm think of it as we

willingness and enthusiasm they they and

if you can't find it if you've lost your

willingness and enthusiasm look around

for it and or work the 15minute rule on

how can I get it back because with

willingness and enthusiasm there's so

much you can achieve

there's a lovely phrase I heard which is

God moves mountains but he expects us to

have a shovel in our hands well I'm

really hoping that I might have inspired

you to pick up the 15minute rule today

as your

[Music]

shovel the tedex talk you just listened

to was recorded at a tedex event in

Venza

Italy all tedex events are independently

organized by volunteers who believe in

Ted's mission of ideas worth spreading

special thanks to the organizing team at

tedex

Venza want to listen to the full talk

find Caroline's talk and more at

t.com

Texs I'm atosa Leoni thanks for

listening and see you next time