The Power of Five: How Five Minutes a Day Can Transform Your Life

I’m going to say this loud and clear for those in the back

Start smaller!

Seriously. I know most of you want to make big sweeping changes all at once, but that’s rarely sustainable.

Here’s why small steps are a better option:

1. Consistency Breeds Progress

Want to know how I’ve read 12 books this year that don’t involve magic or werewolves? I read 10 minutes a day from a book that has some “substance”. That’s it, 5-10 minutes of reading most days has added up to 12 books this year.

2. Small Bursts of Effort Avoids Overwhelm

Okay you know that closet that has all the things stuffed in it and you don’t want to deal with it? Usually the procrastination comes from the sheer overwhelm of the task. Trying to decide what to do with 100 objects at once is far more daunting than deciding on one object a day until the task is finished. By working for 5 minutes a day things get done instead of avoided.

3. Clears Stress While Increasing Productivity

Short, focused bursts of activity can often lead to enhanced productivity. When you're aware that you only have five minutes, you tend to eliminate distractions and concentrate on the task at hand. Afterward you get the dopamine reward of completing the task, which lends itself to overall reducing your stress.

4. Becomes Automatic Over Time

Think back to a time you’ve been putting away the dishes in an unfamiliar kitchen. It takes much longer than normal because you don’t know where the dishes go. But after a few days you know the layout and it starts to go faster.

This premise works the same with starting a new exercise routine to learning a new language. Over time the effort of those 5 minutes starts to automate and things go faster.

5. It’s Sustainable

One of the remarkable aspects of the five-minute approach is its sustainability. The biggest reason I hear for people giving up on their goals is because they can’t figure out how to find the time for them. The 5 minute approach solves for this.

In Summary:

Y'all have enough stress in your lives. You don’t need to add more by putting an insane amount of pressure on yourself to do all the things. Instead embrace the notion that progress, no matter how small, is still progress. You might be surprised what you can achieve by taking tiny consistent steps.

P.S. - Sometimes even 5 minutes a day can be overwhelming. I’ve been there and I understand. I’m here to help. Reach out to me and let me know what’s going on if you need extra support