Kill your Procrastination with the 5 Second Rule

You're tied up with deadlines, meetings, commitments, targets, and everything else that makes your life difficult. But here you are, struck with indecision and contemplating how to approach your giant to-do list as if you have all the time in the world.

Sound familiar?

Like everyone else, you are under the familiar spell called 'procrastination.'

We have all done it -- hit the snooze button a few more times than necessary on a big day. The reluctance to face new challenges, make a phone call or finish a major project has affected us all at some point in life. However, habitual procrastination makes us accomplish less and less. It also slows down your progress as you gradually spend more time fraught with indecision and experiencing brain fog.

According to the book "The 5 Second Rule" by best-selling author and CNN reporter Mel Robbins, there is a simple rule that can help you stop procrastination in its tracks.

The rule is simple: The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal you must act on in it immediately (or within five seconds) - otherwise your brain will start leaning towards procrastination.

Here are three things you can learn from the 5 Second Rule, which will increase your productivity and eliminate procrastination:

1. You can only COUNT BACKWARD starting at five. This action will give you an end point, which will hold you accountable to take action immediately. "You need to feel the fear and 5-4-3-2-1 do it anyway."

2. TAKE ACTION. Procrastination and delaying the inevitable are often habits that have grown over time. Successful leaders calculate their wins as a result of small victories each day. "Once you're moving, it's easier to keep moving," Robbins added.

3. BE COURAGEOUS. Procrastination is also a direct result of constant worry and negative self talk. Robbins says, "To improve anything, you have to find your courage to try."

This technique lets your brain eliminate doubts, fears, and emotions that hinder you from performing. Once you start using the rule correctly, those five seconds can become 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, up until you finish your tasks.

On a side note, if ever feel stuck with the marketing, sales or lead generation for your business, you can always reach out to me for a quick 15 min FREE consultation call.