3. 5 minutes – Extend the action
Once you’ve started, don’t stop right away. Extend your work by an extra 5 minutes. This strategy is key: when you push past the initial discomfort, you often find that you can keep going. It’s much easier to continue once you’ve broken the seal. For example, if you’re writing, you might start with 5 minutes of outlining but find yourself writing for another 10 minutes once you’re in the zone.
Why “5 Minutes”?
You might wonder why 5 minutes is the magic number. It’s simple: 5 minutes isn’t overwhelming, but it’s long enough to make meaningful progress. This short time frame makes it easier to start and helps maintain momentum. Once you see that you can do more than you expected, it’s easier to continue.
