Banish Procrastination Forever

The Secret Hack You Wish You Knew Sooner!

Amy Barlowe
New Writers Welcome
3 min readFeb 12, 2024

--

Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

Hey there! I’m Amy. In my world, I wear many hats: a dedicated lawyer by day, a devoted mom and wife by night, all while trying to squeeze in moments of self-care and productivity. My husband Bill, an ever-supportive industrial engineer, and I are on this wild ride together, raising three incredible kids: Cassie, the gymnast with a razor-sharp wit; Darla, who’s already nurturing dreams of nursing; and George, our train-obsessed, football-loving whirlwind.

Facing Down the Procrastination Beast

Let’s talk about that sneaky thief of time — procrastination. It creeps up on you, whispering sweet nothings about “later” and “tomorrow,” leaving you with a mountain of “should-haves” and “could-haves.” In our bustling household, putting things off was practically a family tradition. Until we discovered a surprisingly simple weapon against it.

One day, amidst the chaos, I stumbled upon the Five-Minute Rule. It’s straightforward: if something takes less than five minutes, do it right away. This little gem has revolutionized how we tackle our to-do lists, turning “I’ll do it later” into “Let’s do it now.”

Why It Works Wonders

The beauty of the Five-Minute Rule lies in its simplicity. It tricks your brain into starting, which is half the battle won. Once you begin, momentum carries you forward, often past the five-minute mark. It’s a psychological hack that turns daunting tasks into manageable bites.

What’s great about this rule is its flexibility. Tailor it to fit your life. Maybe for you, it’s the Two-Minute Rule or even the Ten-Minute Rule for bigger tasks. The point is to just start. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Putting It into Practice

We decided to put this rule to the test with our cluttered garage. “Just five minutes,” I told myself. An hour later, I was still at it, making significant headway. The kids noticed the difference, too. Suddenly, Cassie was organizing her gymnastics gear, Darla was tidying up her study space, and even George was sorting through his trains without being asked.

The Chain Reaction

This simple hack has had a ripple effect through our family. It’s not just about cleaning or sorting; it’s about instilling a mindset of taking immediate action. It’s led to better habits, less stress, and more free time for fun stuff.

Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash

Your Turn to Beat Procrastination

Now, I’m passing the torch to you. Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding and give it five minutes of your time. It’s a small step that can lead to big changes.

Let’s Share and Support

I’d love to hear how the Five-Minute Rule works for you. Share your stories, struggles, and successes. It’s through sharing that we find encouragement and new ideas.

Overcoming procrastination doesn’t require monumental effort; sometimes, all it takes is five minutes. This rule has been a game-changer for us, transforming “later” into “now” and making our daily lives smoother and more productive. Give it a try — what have you got to lose, except maybe a few minutes?

--

--

Amy Barlowe
New Writers Welcome

Joyful mom of three, loving wife, productivity guru, and mindset writer. Embracing life's adventures!