'Touch it once' method for tasks can boost productivity

Nicole Bandes' 'touch it once' rule eliminates procrastination by requiring immediate action when you first encounter any task, whether it's paperwork, email, or a project. The principle states that as soon as you touch something, you must either complete it fully or determine concrete next actionable steps to move it forward. The method prevents the mental drain of repeatedly handling the same items and reduces the 'unfinished business' that clutters mental space and inhibits focus on current work. Engineering leaders will learn the 5-minute rule (if it takes less than 5 minutes, do it immediately; if more, instantly decide how to move it forward) and understand how this discipline-based approach saves time by preventing the accumulation of brain power needed to constantly reprocess pending tasks.