The 2-Minute Trigger Test
A simple rule for deciding what to automate (and what to just do)
Not every task should be automated.
Some are faster to just… do.
So how do you know which ones are worth the effort?
Use the 2-Minute Trigger Test:
If it takes less than 2 minutes, just do it.
If it takes more than 2 minutes and repeats, automate it.
Why It Works
Automation is an investment. Even a quick workflow might take you 20 minutes to set up.
So if a task only takes 30 seconds once a month… it’s not worth automating.
But if it takes 5 minutes every day? That’s 25 minutes a week. 100 minutes a month. Over 20 hours a year.
That’s when the ROI of automation kicks in.
Examples
Do it manually (under 2 minutes):
Sending a one-off Slack message.
Uploading a single file once in a blue moon.
Forwarding a unique email.
Automate it (over 2 minutes & repeatable):
Following up with every new lead.
Sending invoices & reminders.
Creating tasks every time a form is submitted.
Pro Tip
Stack the test with this mindset: “If I’m annoyed doing it twice, I’ll automate it the third time.”
This Week’s Challenge
Write down 3 things you did today that took longer than 2 minutes.
Now circle one and build your first automation around it.
Every system you build this way buys back time forever.