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The 5-Minute Rule: Beat Procrastination with Micro-Momentum
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The 5-Minute Rule: Beat Procrastination with Micro-Momentum

⚡️ What It Is

The 5-Minute Rule is this:
Commit to working on a task for just five minutes.
That’s it.

You don’t have to finish it.
You don’t even have to like it.

Just start.

Because once you begin, something magical happens:
Momentum kicks in.

🔍 Why It Works

Here’s the psychology behind it:

  • Your brain hates uncertainty, but five minutes feels small and manageable.

  • You bypass perfectionism, because you're not trying to complete the whole thing.

  • You activate the “progress loop,” which creates satisfaction and motivation to keep going.

And 9 times out of 10, once you get going, you won’t stop at five minutes.

🧠 How to Use It

Try this right after this episode:

  1. Identify one task you've been avoiding.

  2. Set a timer for 5 minutes.

  3. Work on that task only until the timer goes off.

  4. When it ends, ask: Do I want to keep going?
    Most of the time, the answer will be yes.

This works for:

  • Writing

  • Decluttering

  • Planning your week

  • Recording content

  • Following up with clients

  • Or literally anything you’ve been resisting

💡 Bonus Tip

If you really want to level up the effect, pair this with an “activation ritual” — something tiny that signals to your brain: It’s go time.

That could be:

  • Putting on headphones

  • Lighting a candle at your desk

  • Opening your calendar

  • Starting a playlist

Link it with the start of your five minutes, and you’ll train your brain to switch into productivity mode faster.

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