I used to wait for motivation to show up before I started anything.
The workout I kept postponing.
The cleaning I knew I had to do at home.
The project sitting untouched in a tab I never closed.
But most times, the moment never felt right. It took me a long time to realize I had it completely backwards.
Action creates motivation. Not the other way around.
That is the reason why I’m encouraging you to set aside five minutes to get started on a task you’ve been putting off. Instead of completely ignoring the workout, the cleaning, or the project, commit to doing it for just five minutes.
Set a timer. Tell yourself you can stop when it goes off. Full permission to quit. No guilt, no pressure.
What happens almost every time? You keep going.
The gap between thinking about doing something and actually doing it is where most of us get stuck. But if you tell yourself you’re only committing to it for five minutes, your brain barely flinches. Once you're in motion, momentum takes over, and continuing becomes easier than stopping.
So if you've been waiting to feel ready, to feel inspired, to feel like the timing is right, the truth is: that feeling comes after you begin, not before.
You don't need a perfect plan or a big burst of energy. You just need five minutes and the willingness to show up.
P.S. If you’re looking for some extra help with taking action, I invite you to check out my dear friend Mel Robbin’s brilliant technique called The 5 Second Rule.
Today’s Wiser Choice
Try This: Pick one thing you’ve been putting off lately.
Set a timer for five minutes and start making progress on it. Don’t overthink it. Just start.
Give yourself full permission to stop when the timer ends. No pressure to continue.
When the time is up, check in with yourself: “Do you want to keep going for just a few more minutes?”
Most of the time, you will.
The goal here is to teach yourself that motivation comes after you take action.
Where do you get stuck the most?
On Purpose
Yesterday on my podcast, I sat down with Noah Kahan to unpack the myth of the “tortured artist,” and the fear that healing might take away what makes you creative. Noah opened up about his recent OCD diagnosis, how he let go of the belief that he had to suffer for his art, and what it took to find his voice again without relying on pain. Noah spoke candidly about his struggles with body dysmorphia and the unexpected therapy of creating his documentary. Together we explored what it means to find balance and to stop performing for the world so you can finally be seen by the people who matter most.
Listen on:
