We all put off doing things. We even put off things we know will enhance our lives. And sometimes this happens indefinitely. Going to the gym. Calling your grandma. Getting started on that great book idea you have. We all have things that we know would enhance our lives, yet we put them off.
Why? Because we procrastinate. And why do we procrastinate? Because the task seems daunting. So let’s make everything a little less scary.
Introducing… The 5 minute technique.
Set a timer and give yourself 5 minutes to do something you want to do. You can even do it just by looking at the clock. Do this every day. Or whenever you want to do something that you would normally procrastinate doing.
You can use this technique for anything. Writing, reading, working out, cleaning…etc. You can also apply it to a part of a task to make it even easier to get started. For example, writing the introduction for an essay, instead of focusing on the whole entire thing.
The 5 minute technique makes it easy to get started. If you see something only as a 5 minute commitment, you’re way more likely to do it.
Everyone has 5 minutes a day to commit to something. Don’t act like you don’t. Make a habit out of it and see where it goes from there.
The hardest part of doing something is getting started. It’s all about overcoming inertia. Like pushing a boulder; the hardest part, by far, is actually putting it in motion.
The 5 minute technique works so well because it’s such a small commitment. So small that you trick yourself into starting. Then once you start, everything after comes easier.
Using the 5 minute technique makes taking action less scary and more manageable. It also prevents procrastination, which is a huge problem for most people. The 5 minute technique is an awesome tool for people to create an action-based life. Because things only get done through action. So start taking action, even if it’s in 5 minute chunks.
Oh, and here’s the best part. I wasn’t able to actually finish this post until I did the 5 minute technique. Yup, that happened. It works. Just do it.
