The 5-Second Rule That Could Make You More Productive at Work

Somewhere between wanting to do something and actually doing it, most people talk themselves out of it, and there's a five-second window where that switch flips.

If you’re one to procrastinate, there’s a simple technique that might work for you, and it only involves counting down to five.

The 5-second rule was coined by author Mel Robbins in her book, “The 5 Second Rule,” where she explains that a person’s instinct to act expires after five seconds. That’s when the brain takes over and talks you out of it.

Robbins proposes using this technique to prevent procrastination: count down from five to one and act immediately. The countdown engages the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, helping you move before overthinking has a chance to take over.

At work, this means counting down to five when you’re pondering sending that email you’ve been avoiding or hesitating to pick up the phone to make that dreaded call, or putting off starting a project that’s long overdue. “The rule can help you be more productive because it creates a sense of urgency and importance around you completing a particular task," says productivity coach Rashelle Isip.

This idea is similar to the principle used by business leaders like Jeff Bezos, who credits “bias for action” for making him a faster and more confident decision-maker.