I came across a quote recently that stopped me in my tracks: "Do whatever will take you less than 5 minutes first."

Now, I've been staring at my to-do list for years. I know how to make one. I know how to ignore one. But something about that simple little rule made me want to try it differently, and honestly? This past week has been one of the most productive I've had in a really long time.

For me, I stretched it to 10 minutes. Because when I looked at my list, there were things sitting there for weeks that I'd been avoiding, not because they were hard, but because I just... didn't feel like starting. Sound familiar? I'd skip right over them and go to the bigger stuff, which I also wouldn't finish, and then just feel behind on everything.

So this week I flipped it. Start with the quick ones. Just knock them out.

And what happened was kind of amazing. I kept crossing things off, one after another. And each time I did, I wanted to do the next one. I couldn't stop.

Here's why that happens, and it's not just you feeling good about yourself (though that counts too):

Your brain is actually wired for this.

When you complete a task, any task, your brain releases dopamine, the chemical responsible for that little rush of satisfaction and reward. It doesn't care if you just replied to a two-week-old email or launched a new product. A win is a win to your brain, and it responds by making you want to keep going. Scientists call this the reward prediction cycle, and it's the same system behind why some habits feel effortless once you start.

Harvard researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer dug deep into this. They analyzed nearly 12,000 diary entries from workers across 7 companies and found that the single biggest driver of positive mood and motivation wasn't big breakthroughs. It was simply making progress. Even tiny progress. In fact, 28% of events that had only a minor impact on the actual work had a major impact on how people felt. Small wins aren't just feel-good fluff. They are the engine.

There's also something called the Zeigarnik Effect, the psychological phenomenon where unfinished tasks sit in the back of your brain taking up space and draining your mental energy, even when you're not actively thinking about them. Every item that's been sitting on your list for three weeks is quietly weighing on you. Crossing things off doesn't just feel good. It frees your mind.

The "do the quick ones first" idea has actually been around in productivity circles for a while. David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology has a version of it (the two-minute rule), and James Clear talks about how starting anything, even just a tiny version of it, lowers the barrier enough for your brain to build momentum. The hardest part is almost always just beginning. But when you start your day or your task session with five quick wins? You've already begun. The momentum is real, and the science backs it up.

So here's how to actually do this:

Look at your list and mark anything that will take you 10 minutes or less (or 5 do whatever works best for you). Do those first. Don't skip them, don't save them for later. Just start knocking them out. You'll be surprised how many of those "I'll get to it" tasks disappear in one sitting, and even more surprised at how energized you feel to tackle the bigger stuff after.

I'm not saying this fixes everything. The big hard things still need attention. But getting them out of the way feels so much less daunting when you've already got a streak going. Try it this week and let me know how it goes. I genuinely think you'll feel the difference.

Whats new on You Tube...

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Take it out of the box! You bought that tool, that machine, that thing in the box that's been sitting there untouched, and now you're too intimidated to open it. I get it, I have been there. We build it up so much in our heads that it starts to feel impossible before we even try. But here's the truth: everyone who looks confident with their tools right now started exactly where you are. Confused. A little scared. Figuring it out as they went. So this is your nudge. Open the box, plug it in, and do it a little wrong. Watch Here

Steve Carell has done it again. His timing, his delivery, all of it just hits. Mike and I end up laughing out loud at least once (usually more) every single episode. If you’ve been craving something light and genuinely funny to help you shut off the noise of the day, this might be the show that pulls you in. It’s quickly becoming one of those go to comedies we can’t stop watching. Watch Here

Things YOU have been loving!

Bra You guys already know about this one and there is a reason it keeps flying off the shelves. Comfortable, supportive, and so smooth under everything. If you have been on the fence, just get it. You will thank yourself later.

Shorts Summer is coming (for some of you it never left) and these are the ones. The fit is easy, the color is fun, and they are the kind of shorts you just keep grabbing off the pile. Your new go-to, trust me & they have lots of color options!

Sweatshirt That perfect in-between layer you will reach for all year long. Soft enough to lounge in, not so heavy that you overheat. Once you put this on you are going to want it in every color.

Can’t find that thing I shared?​
It’s probably in my Amazon storefront packed with my most-loved picks in fashion, beauty, kitchen, and home. I am sorting links shared by Month, so here are all of your favorites from January!

Looking for a link or discount code?

I’ve added even more this week for you. I’ve gathered new discount codes from brands I genuinely love and use, and I think you’re going to love them too. You can find everything in one place at thelittlegreenbean.com.

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