How to use the 2 minute timer
- The timer is set to 2 minutes. Press Start or the space bar.
- The bar under the time shrinks as the two minutes run out, so you can tell at a glance how much is left.
- Stop the alarm with space or Stop alarm, then press space to start another two minutes.
Two minutes for small jobs
The “two-minute rule” from David Allen’s book Getting Things Done says that if a task takes less than two minutes, do it right away rather than adding it to a list. A two minute timer turns that into a game: start it, clear as many quick jobs as you can, and stop when it rings.
Two minutes also suits turns in board and party games, timed answers in a quiz, a short burst of tidying with children, and steeping some green teas, which often need only two to three minutes in water below boiling. Check the packet, as times vary by tea.
Rest periods
Between sets in the gym, a fixed rest keeps a workout on track. Start the timer as you put the weight down and begin the next set at the alarm. For a rest that’s a little longer, use the 3 minute timer, or press +1 min while it runs.