Workload & wellbeing
Clear the small stuff first
A micro habit for building momentum before you take on the big thing
Spend the first twenty minutes of your day clearing small tasks, then stop and turn to the big one.
- 20 minutes a day
- Just you
- Every workday
- Make time
Why this can work
Some people start best with the hard thing, and some stall in front of it. If quick wins get you going, twenty capped minutes of small tasks can carry you into the big one with momentum instead of dread. The cap is what keeps the warm-up from becoming the whole morning.
Read moreHow to use quick wins to get started
You’ll come away with a handful of small things done and the big task already underway.
- Name today's big task first.
Before you touch anything small, write down the one thing the day is really for. Knowing where you're headed keeps the warm-up a warm-up.
- List only the quick stuff.
Replies, approvals, forms, invites: things that take a few minutes each. Anything bigger goes on a later list.
Tip: Put whatever someone else is waiting on at the top.
- Set a twenty-minute timer and work through the list.
Move fast. Finish rather than polish.
- Stop when it goes off, even mid-list.
Finish the sentence you're writing, close the list, and open the big task.
- Take one small step on the big task right away.
Open the file and write the first line, or send the first question. The idea is to carry the momentum across before it fades.
MonTueWedThuFri9 am11 am1 pm3 pm20 min, yours5 pm1.3 hrs a month, for you17 hrs a year you didn’t have beforeSame slot so it stops being a decision
Good times to repeat it: every workdayon mornings you can't get startedafter time away, when small things have piled up
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
An approval or a two-line answer can be holding up a colleague's whole morning. Clearing those first is a real contribution, even if it doesn't feel like much.
What might make this harder
Only count things that take under five minutes. Everything else waits for later in the day.
Questions people ask
Should I do easy tasks or hard tasks first?
It depends how you start. If you work best diving straight into the hard thing, do that. If you stall in front of it, a short, capped burst of easy tasks can build the momentum to begin.
Is it okay to start the workday with small tasks?
Yes, if it's capped and you move to the important work when the time is up. The risk is letting small tasks fill the morning, which a timer mostly solves.
How do I get started on a big task I keep putting off?
Name it first, then make the first step tiny and concrete, like opening the file and writing one line. A few small things finished beforehand can help carry you in.
Why this works, and where it comes from
There's a popular rule that says to do the hardest thing first, and for plenty of people it works beautifully. For others it means sitting in front of the big task at nine, not starting, and feeling worse by ten. If you're in the second group, nothing is wrong with you; some people need momentum before depth. Finishing a few small things changes how the next thing feels, and that's worth using on purpose.
The timer turns a tendency into a method. Small tasks are satisfying because they end, and the supply never runs out, so twenty uncapped minutes can easily become the morning. Stopping when time is up, even mid-list, and immediately taking one small step on the big task is how the momentum carries across instead of fading.
Be honest with yourself about which this is for you: warming up, or hiding. If most days the timer ends and you turn to the big task, it's working. If you keep finding one more small thing, or adding to the list to put the big one off, the warm-up has quietly become the avoidance, and it's time to try the reverse.
On a day when the big task has a hard deadline, flip the order and let the small stuff wait until it's done. Judge by what actually happens on your mornings, not by what you'd like to be true.
Other simple things to consider
What to do next
More in Workload & wellbeing
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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated September 25, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.