The "5 More" Rule

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when you’re in charge. The buck stops with you. Everyone wants to ask you what to do. You have a report that’s due at work and your spouse and children all want your attention. Instead of giving up, just tell yourself this: “Just 5 more.”

Maybe it’s 5 more minutes. Maybe it’s 5 more pages of the chapter you have to read before tomorrow’s test. Maybe it’s 5 more emails before you shut down for the evening. Whatever it is - 5 more of it doesn’t sound impossible. 1 or 2 more? Too easy. 10 more? Too depressing. 5 more seems to hit the sweet spot. It pushes you just a l-i-t-t-l-e bit beyond your point of frustration and helps you build mental concentration.

So, this week, when you want to stop exercising, try 5 more minutes. If you get depressed by the thought of cleaning out the refrigerator, clean out just 5 more items. Once you get going, you’ll probably find your second “wind” and keep going but - shhhhh - don’t tell yourself that, it’s just our little secret!

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