Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule

See how to use the 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins to become the most fulfilled person you know

Please note: This is an unofficial summary created to help you understand and apply the principles outlined in the book. For full disclaimer details, click here.

The 5 Second Rule (2017) by Mel Robbins is a guidebook that will help you take control of your life, change your behavior and live life with less fear and more courage. The book presents a technique that will help you take action when you need to and unlock your potential in just five seconds.

It explains through concrete examples why so many people procrastinate and put off pursuing their dreams. People are often faced with an opportunity to do something that will help them reach their goals but their subconscious stops them from leaving their comfort zone and doing whatever they need to do. Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule helps you take that step before you lose your courage. People often spend their entire lives waiting for that perfect moment that never arrives. Adopt a do it now mindset and you will achieve a lot more in life.

“If you’re searching for that one person who will change your life, look in the mirror” Mel Robbins

What is the five second rule?

The author, Mel Robbins, is an author, journalist, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. She developed this simple decision-making tool that can change your behavior. When you feel an instinct fire up to act on a goal or a commitment or the moment you feel yourself hesitate on doing something count down from five (5- 4- 3- 2- 1) to prevent acting on detrimental urges. As you reach 1, you take action. This simple act of counting down from 5 distracts you from your anxieties and redirects your attention to what you should be doing, instead of letting your urges make the decision. When you keep doing this, you can break a negative cycle and create new and better habits. The counting will help you focus on the goal or commitment and distract you from the worries, thoughts, and fears in your mind.

The author claims that the rule is a research-backed metacognition tool that creates immediate and lasting behavior change. Metacognition is any technique that allows you to beat your brain in order to accomplish your greater goals.

When do you use the five second rule?

You can use it whenever you need to take action. For example, if you decide you want to exercise in the morning but part of you wants to go back to sleep. When you need to do something and you feel like procrastinating, then count down from 5 and then take action.

This tool is especially useful if you’re the kind of person who sits around waiting for inspiration.

Sometimes we don’t have the courage to take action. This is one of the ways the 5 second rule can help us. During the time you countdown you can build up the courage you need to do whatever you need to do.

The author gave the example of Rosa Parks who refused to stand up on a city bus and give her seat to a white man. The defiance became a historic moment. It was a very small step yet it caused significant changes. That is the basis of the five-second rule. It isn’t groundbreaking yet, it is so effective. It simply pushes you toward being a more courageous person. Rosa Parks was a shy and introverted woman. Her instincts were not necessarily to fight against injustice. Yet that’s what she did. She was not a particularly courageous woman yet at that moment she felt the power and courage to do something that aligned with her beliefs and that’s what she did. Often, we have beliefs and goals that cause us to want to take action on the one hand. On the other hand, we have instincts that tell us to play it safe and not be courageous. But the five-second rule can give us just enough time to do things that will present more opportunities without letting our fear take over. It enables us to be more courageous and less fearful.