Struggling to Start? Try This 5-Minute Trick

Ever stare at your to-do list and feel completely stuck? You know there are things you should do — maybe it’s your workout, catching up on emails, or just tackling a task that’s been sitting in the back of your mind — but you can’t bring yourself to start.

I’ve been there. Sometimes even 15 minutes can feel like too much. That’s where this tiny-but-mighty strategy comes in:

Just give it 5 minutes.

Pick one small task. Set a timer for 5 minutes. And simply begin.

I first started doing this when I was working from home and struggling to feel motivated without the usual structure of an office or a gym community. Whether it was charting, tidying up, or working out — everything felt heavy. So I dropped the pressure and set a timer for just 5 minutes.

Sometimes I only did the 5. But more often than not, those 5 minutes gave me just enough momentum to keep going.

You can use this for almost anything:

• 5 minutes of gentle movement or stretching

• 5 minutes of prep (veggies, your gym bag, tomorrow’s breakfast)

• 5 minutes of walking or stepping outside

• 5 minutes of inbox clean-up

• 5 minutes of breathing, journaling, or brain-dumping

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about lowering the activation energy. Because when you’re managing IBS, fatigue, blood sugar swings, or just everyday life — starting is often the hardest part.

And hey — even if you stop after 5 minutes? That’s still a win.

Want more small, doable strategies like this one?
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