The most difficult part about doing something is getting started. We tend to rely heavily on willpower here, but that isn’t always enough. Sometimes we need other techniques. One of those is the 5-second rule.
In this article, we’ll explore what the 5-second rule is and how you can use it to limit hesitation and boost your productivity.
What is the 5 second rule?
The 5-second rule is a concept aimed to reduce hesitation, overthinking, and procrastination. It encourages you to take action and start your task after a countdown from 5.
The author Mel Robbins popularized the rule in her book of the same name. It has since been embraced by people who wish to improve productivity and live a better life.
Related: How to boost productivity with a journal
When to use the 5 second rule
The 5-second rule can reduce overthinking and procrastination in all areas of your life. It can be used whenever you’re faced with a difficult decision or have to do something you’d rather put off. Here are a few examples of when you could apply it and how it would look.
- Getting up in the morning: Count down from 5 and get out of bed as you reach 1.
- Starting work: Count down from 5 and start working as you reach go.
- Being active: Count down from 5 and get moving as you reach go.
- Making a difficult decision: Count down from 5 and make a decision when you reach 1.
It’s important to note that the 5-second rule won’t always result in you making the best decisions. It works best here if you’ve already tried different problem-solving techniques, have an idea about the pros and cons, and just need the final push to make the decision.
Why does the 5 second rule work
The 5-second rule is a great technique to boost productivity and get you moving by limiting hesitation. Let’s look at the two reasons why the technique is so effective.
1. Acts as a trigger
Every action needs a trigger. It needs something to initiate and begin. Everything you do or want to do already has a trigger, but it sometimes isn’t enough on its own. For some behaviors, especially those with a more gratifying alternative, you’ll probably find it easier to delay it. The longer you do this, the more difficult it’ll be to start.
We’re already wired to expect something to happen when a countdown reaches 0. The 5-second rules take advantage of this and use it to trigger a desired behavior every time you do it. The more you use the rule, the more effective the trigger will become and the easier it’ll be to get started, even with difficult tasks.
2. Eliminates overthinking
You probably don’t always feel like starting the thing you’re supposed to. The bed seems more comfortable than getting up and ready, and the phone might seem more gratifying than starting your work. The longer you delay the action, the more you’ll think about how difficult and uncomfortable it is. The more time you give yourself to overthink it, the less likely you’ll be to do it.
With the 5-second rule, you remove the time for overthinking. You don’t have time to talk yourself out of it, and there’ll be fewer reasons why you shouldn’t do it.
How to use the 5 second rule to boost productivity
The rule is easy to use. All you have to do for simple tasks, such as getting up from bed, is start a countdown from 5. As soon as you reach 0 or go, you start. No excuses or delays.
For complex tasks, you might have to do some preparation in advance. For these actions, you can use the rule in 3 different ways.
- Use the countdown to start the preparation and proceed straight to the action after.
- Prepare and use the countdown to start your task when you’re ready.
- Use the countdown twice. First to start the preparation and then again to start the task.
Related: Journal prompts for productivity
How to make the 5 second rule more effectively
While the 5-second rule is effective, it won’t always be enough to beat procrastination and hesitation. Let’s explore 3 things you can do to make the rule more effective.
1. Combine it with other productivity techniques
Several techniques aim to beat procrastination and are especially effective for more complex tasks. Both the 5-second rule and the other techniques can become more effective by merging them. Let’s have a look at 2 of the techniques you can combine the rule with.
The 5-minute rule
The 5-minute rule is a concept that helps you get started on large tasks by making them small and more manageable. The 5-second rule works well with it, as it can be the final push to get you started. You can read more about the 5-minute rule and how to use it here.
The 20-second rule
The 20-second rule is a technique where you ensure it takes no longer than 20 seconds to start any difficult task. Here, you have prepared in advance or designed your environment to make it easy to start. The 5-second rule can either help with the early preparation or be the final push to get you started. You can read more about the 20-second rule and how to use it here.
2. Start with easy tasks
The more you practice, the more effective the rule becomes. In the beginning, the habit of using 0 as a trigger isn’t developed yet. This means the trigger isn’t strong and might not be enough to beat serious overthinking and procrastination.
To develop the trigger and make the countdown more effective, you can begin by applying it to simpler tasks. Practice it with small tasks, such as getting up or drinking water.
The more you use it, the more effective it’ll become. These small tasks can create the necessary patterns in your brain and make it effective even for large tasks.
3. Always act as you reach 0
When you do something enough times, it’ll become a habit and happen without a second thought. That means what you do as you hit 0 becomes a habit. If you always find another excuse at 0 and delay your task further, the 5-second rule will only promote more procrastination.
Make sure you always act as you reach 0 to benefit from the rule. You don’t have to do a lot, but do something. This way, the rule will gradually become more effective and boost productivity.
Final thoughts
The 5-second rule is a concept that’ll help you limit hesitation and boost your productivity. The more you use it, the more effective it’ll become. Give it a try next time you struggle to get moving.
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