I subscribe to Audible and over the last few years have listened to many books.  I bought this one last year sometime and listened for a few minutes.  I wasn’t in the mood or was maybe a bit overwhelmed so I pushed it aside.  I guess I just wasn’t ready for it.

Recently, I needed a book to listen to on our ROAD TRIP to Montana so I looked through my library and stumbled upon THE 5 SECOND RULE by MEL ROBBINS, again.  I started listening to it and didn’t want to stop.  Ended up finishing it up on the drive home 2 weeks later.  SO MANY VALUABLE points in this book that I need to listen again and take notes.  So I plan to share many parts of this book, 1 lesson at a time.

First lesson:

Procrastination – According to Mel we have had it all wrong for all these years.  Do you struggle with PROCRASTINATION?  Um YES!!!  Did you know that you are not a PROCRASTINATOR?  You have a HABIT of PROCRASTINATING.  SAY WHAT?!?!  Come to find out our PROCRASTINATION has nothing to do with the thing we are avoiding.  We PROCRASTINATE because we are STRESSED.  PROCRASTINATION is a form of STRESS RELIEF.  Think about that.  Personally I never put that together but it makes complete sense.  So now what??  Well here are the steps to STOP PROCRASTINATING!!!

#1 – ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRESS:  “Wait a second, I am spending way too much time avoiding what I need to do so I must be stressed.”

#2 – COUNT 5-4-3-2-1 (to yourself):  This disrupts the habit and awakens the pre-frontal cortex of the brain

#3 – Interrupt the Procrastination Habit:  Remember PROCRASTINATION is a HABIT.

#4 – Do 1 thing.  Just for 5 minutes:  Your problem isn’t working.  Its the habit of avoiding.  Based on her research if you start, 80% of you will continue.

As she says throughout her book, ITS SIMPLE but not EASY.  Don’t get in your head too much about the little things.  Just start.  Count 5-4-3-2-1 and Go.  This resonates with me as a long time Crossfitter.  3-2-1…GO.

CLICK HERE to pick up the book on Amazon or Audible.

Here is a link to a video with Mel Robbins discussing the topic.