A recent life hack discovery: 5-4-3-2-1 … GO!

In my last post I mentioned a Mel Robbins podcast that I listened to that was very inspiring. I did a little research and found out that she wrote a book called “The 5 Second Rule“. I just started reading it and am only a few chapters in but love the premise. 

The idea is that in the moment of hesitation before you do something you know you need or want to do (i.e. get out of bed to go to the gym, make that phone call, have that conversation, sign up for that yoga retreat, etc.) you count down from five and just do it. You don’t overthink it or analyze it or procrastinate any further. You just do it. In her intro she discussed how she would go into the science and psychology of it all which I am super excited to read more about.

It got me to thinking about how much we delay doing things. The art of procrastination. I wouldn’t say I have a huge problem with it, but there are certain things I definitely procrastinate. For example, laundry. Oh yes. My husband and I have very distinct roles in our household, one of them being that he cooks and I clean. He does some cleaning, but I do most of it. And ALL the laundry. I joke that I haven’t cooked since I moved in with him and he jokes that he hasn’t done any laundry since then either. I am great at DOING the laundry. It’s the putting away part that I will often procrastinate. Which really throws things off when you have several loads to do in a day.

I have started to implement the 5 second rule with the putting away of laundry. I count down from 5 and just do it (as Nike would say). Sometimes I have my son with me. He loves to help, especially with his current obsession with taking things in and out of containers, so he is more than happy to help with socks and underwear (though I often have to do some refolding afterwards…LOL). And then it’s done and I don’t have it weighing over my head anymore. Or I am no longer stuck in that mild state of panic where I don’t have any place to put the laundry that is currently in the dryer because the laundry basket is otherwise occupied with folded clothes that need to be put away so the items in the dryer will just continue to stay in there and need to be fluffed (multiple times because I forget they’re there) so they don’t wrinkle and then maybe the next day (or two) I’ll finally get around to folding and putting them away. *deep breath* Maybe? Anyone else fall in that never-ending cycle? LOL.

I am excited to find other (and more meaningful) ways to implement this 5 second rule. I’ll let you know how I do! What are ways you might be able to implement it? Just try it out. I promise mainly good things can come of it.🙂

“The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will stop you. 5 4 3 2 1 Go!”

~Mel Robbins

Do what makes you happy.