Embracing Progress Over Perfection with the 5-Minute Rule

How often do we let perfection mask procrastination? We wait for the perfect timing, the perfect conditions, or the perfect plan. Days turn into months, months into years, and sometimes, we wait an entire lifetime. The result? Unfulfilled dreams, overwhelm, and a to-do list that never ends.

Think about it—if babies waited for the perfect conditions to walk, they’d never take their first steps. Crawling, stumbling, and falling are messy beginnings, but they’re essential to progress. The same is true for us. The Zeigarnik Effect teaches us that once we start something, our brain creates a mental loop that nudges us to finish it. Pair that with the 5-minute rule—committing to just 5 minutes of action—and you’ll find that starting is often the hardest part.

So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you catch yourself saying, “I’ll get to it later,” replace it with, “Let me spend 5 minutes on it now.” You might be surprised by how it transforms not just your productivity, but your sense of fulfillment.

What’s one task you’ve been putting off that you could start for just 5 minutes today? I’d love to hear your thoughts.