Does the 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins Work?

If you’ve read my previous post on self-discipline – you’ll already know I lack in it…greatly. Which is why this morning I was more than grateful that I could fight through my intense desire to snooze my alarm a third time and go to the office. Thankfully I succeed some mornings…and unfortunately, fail on others. A few weeks ago, I began a new job that’s hybrid (half remote and half at the office). I needed external pressure to force me to be productive – whether I liked it or not. I decided to seek a new environment where my brain was no longer on autopilot – as it has been for the last 3 years working remotely. 

When Mel Robbins during her Ted Talk said, “you’ll never feel like it” – I felt so called out. I had become so in tune with my emotions these past six years, that I unintentionally had let them become the ruler of my life. How I felt, decided everything. And as you can tell, I never felt like doing anything – even if it’s good for me. In fact, I started this post on a morning when I failed to convince myself to get out of bed and go for a walk. I ended up pulling the emergency brake because I tried to do something out of my regular routine. 

Months ago, I randomly clicked on a video of an interview with Mel Robbins. I had no idea who she was then. But now I seek out her content intentionally.

From her boss babe interview and her infamous ted talk –  I learned about the 5-second rule she created. The idea behind it is that before doing any action – instead of questioning it – you count to 5 and just do it. Such as waking up in the morning. Before you even let yourself think “I don’t want to get up” or “I can sleep for five more minutes” you count 5…4…3…2…1 and just get up. Let’s say you have to complete an assignment – count those 5 seconds and just do it. 

The idea behind the rule is that you don’t give yourself time to mull over your feelings or negative thoughts. Because the minute you do, you kill the idea or impulse to do it. So you have to force yourself to do the physical action within the first 5 seconds to prevent yourself from pulling the emergency brake, as Mel Robbins says. Whether it’s just writing down a reminder or typing a note on your phone, to connect a physical action to the thought.

Mel Robbins came up with this rule when she was knee-deep in depression. She couldn’t find the strength or motivation to do anything. So she began to use the 5-second rule to push herself into doing actions without sinking into her depressive thoughts. She believed that all you had to do was count to 5. 

As always, it’s easier said than done. After I saw her interview, I found myself trying to count to 5 and do an action without thinking about it. To be honest, it only worked for a few days. I was able to get up in the morning and get some tasks done despite not feeling like it. But soon I went back to my old rhythm of things as I didn’t have the justification to continue.

Do I have to do it? No. But if I do it, will it make me a better and happier person? Yes. That for some reason wasn’t justification enough. 

Going back to the office after so many years was a big step for me and I needed help. So this past month, I found myself once again trying the 5-second rule. Even though I am not literally counting to 5, I did notice that the less time I let myself contemplate my inner voice – the more I was able to succeed in completing my goals for that day. 

As a massive overthinker, trying not to fall into the bottomless pit of just chewing over my thoughts every second takes a huge effort. So, does the 5-second rule work? Yes – if you allow yourself to remember to use the tool and commit to it. Will it be hard? Also, yes. The method clicked for her – making it the answer for her. It doesn’t guarantee it’ll work for you. Who knows? You may create your own 5-second rule while in the rut. 

But till then, try this one out. Since reality is that the only way to do anything you don’t want to do, is to force yourself. How you force yourself is the answer. 

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash