Finding Two Minutes

Amongst the busyness of life, finding time seems to be getting harder and harder. It feels we have less of it than ever, and need more than ever.

As an example, running felt like too much of an effort for a while. I knew the value of it, even post-marathon, purely as an exercise in health and enjoyment—plus the underrated benefit of city exploration. There shouldn’t have to be a race to train for, yet I stopped.

It seems daunting. Having to drag yourself to run a certain distance, at a certain pace, or with a certain outcome in mind. Simply because it feels like a large task, you’re much more likely to leave it for another day. Of course, running is just an example here. Any project that you’re sure is very worth your while can still be painfully difficult to embark upon, day after day, if the threshold for success is too high.

Instead, I’ve found reframing the criteria for satisfaction extremely helpful. I can always find two minutes spare within my day. Without fail. That isn’t something I can reason myself out of. So, what if I was content with just two minutes of running each day? Studying for two minutes? Reading? Spending two extra minutes having a conversation with someone close to you?

The best training program is the one that you enjoy, and that keeps you coming back tomorrow. You can worry about everything else after that.