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How much time do you spend on a single task? Smaller tasks, like replying to an email, might take just a couple of minutes. But larger tasks, like writing a blog post, could take almost an hour. However, The 10-Minute Rule dictates that every task on your to-do list should take you 10 minutes or less.

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Test it out. Set a timer for ten minutes increments and spend a day or two working as you normally would, taking note of how long tasks generally take you. If they take you 10 minutes or less, great! If not, it's time to reevaluate how you tackle these tasks.

For any to-do list item that takes you more than ten minutes, ask yourself two questions.

First, can this task be broken down into more specific parts? For example, writing a blog post can be broken down to research, creating an outline, writing the article, and uploading it to the content management system. Each of these smaller tasks should take you less than ten minutes to complete.

Secondly, can this task be delegated or outsourced to someone else? Often times, there are tasks on our to-do lists that are better left to others so that you can concentrate on the tasks you enjoy and are skilled at.

It's a pretty simple rule and one that will help you reevaluate how you spend your time.

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