Do You Want to Make the Next School Year Easier?

Do you use something akin to the “5-Minute Rule?” 

If you’re not familiar with it, the 5-Minute Rule is a proven cognitive behavioral therapy technique that can be summed up with “Just do it for five minutes.” It makes starting tasks that have been looming easy by minimizing the effort required to get going. 

If you’re an educator, I’m guessing you are either on break or heading into vacation soon (summer if you’re in the northern hemisphere and winter if you’re in the southern hemisphere). If that’s the case, I hope you have a luxurious amount of relaxation time in store for you. 

If you want ideas for how to sink into this precious time, here are three things I’m loving right now: 

1. Every Sunday, I read or listen to Elizabeth Gilbert’s weekly, “Letters from Love.” And often I write my own. 
2. 5Rhythms: movement, creativity, connection - and also on the edge of my comfort zone, which is exciting to explore. 
3. I’m watching old seasons of Project Runway that I never saw, and rewatching seasons that I loved (Season 19 was THE BEST).  

In addition to soaking up all the relaxation of this season, I encourage you to consider how the 5-minute rule can be used today to bring more ease once you’re back at work (where I’m guessing it’s safe to say you will crave more easefulness). 

And I get it, you probably don’t want to spend your break thinking about work. But are lingering thoughts popping up uninvited? 

If so, I’ve found taking 5 minutes a day, or 5 minutes a week while I’m away actually helps me sink deeper into a state of relaxation. Making progress on, or taking care of those looming tasks, frees up mental and emotional energy and increases my ability to be fully present. If this is the case for you, try out the 5-minute rule and see how it goes. 

Is this your first 5-minute task? 

In 5 minutes, you’ll have the satisfaction and security that comes from knowing you’ve locked in the skills, tools, and support system you need to thrive in the coming year. 

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