What to Do When You Don't Feel Like Practicing

Most of us rarely feel like practicing.  

How can we push past our feelings and get done what needs doing?

“5-4-3-2-1-GO PRACTICE!”  And do it!

It’s that simple!

The 5-Second Rule

In Mel Robbins’ book, The 5-Second Rule, she teaches a simple yet powerful tool for getting done the things we don’t “feel like” doing. She explains how our inner wisdom knows what we “should” do, but in less than five seconds our brain comes up with excuse after excuse for why we shouldn’t.

Get out of bed

Mel Robbins first used this trick to get herself out of bed in the mornings. 

Does this sound familiar?

Your alarm goes off.

Inner wisdom: I should get up.

Brain: I don’t feel like getting up.  Five more minutes won’t hurt.  I have plenty of time to get to class.  It won’t hurt to miss just one class. I’ll just hit the snooze, or better yet, turn the alarm off completely.

Result: You stay in bed. You're late to class or miss class entirely. You feel bad the rest of the day as you try to dodge the teacher of the class you slept through. 

Watch what happens when you use the 5-Second Rule:

Your alarm goes off.

Inner wisdom: I should get up.

Brain: I don’t feel like…

You: 5-4-3-2-1 GET UP! And get up!

Result: You get up!  You get dressed. You make it to class. You feel great!

You can use this rule to accomplish anything you know you should do but don’t feel like doing!

I don’t feel like practicing

Inner wisdom: I should go practice.

Brain: I don’t feel like practicing. I have to get dressed and walk all the way over to the music building. There probably won’t even be a practice room available. I should just stay in my dorm room and continue browsing Facebook and watching Netflix.

Results: You don’t go practice.  You have a rough lesson that week. You are stressed about your next performance. 

Using the 5-Second Rule:

Inner wisdom: You should go practice.

Brain: I don’t feel like…

You: 5-4-3-2-1-GO PRACTICE and you get dressed, grab your music, and book it across campus to the music building!

Result: You go practice!  You get a lot done.  You are more confident at your next lesson. You are more prepared for an upcoming performance.

You Must Act!

IMPORTANT: Once you get to 1, you MUST make some physical movement toward practicing. 

Simply standing up, turning off the TV, or grabbing your music will break your feelings’ hold over you and move you in the right direction.

Once again let me reiterate, when you get to 1, You. Must. Act.

Learn more from Mel:

If you want to learn more about how the Five-Second Rule works and how it can boost your productivity, demolish procrastination, conquer anxiety, build confidence, and more (yes, more!) grab a copy of Mel’s book and check out her YouTube channel.

Now, 5-4-3-2-1-Go do something you don’t feel like doing!

Leave a comment below to let me know what you used the 5-Second Rule to accomplish! 

Mel also loves to hear how her rule is changing lives, so let her know using the hashtag #5secondrule and/or tagging her on Twitter @MelRobbins, Facebook /MelRobbins, or Instagram @MelRobbinsLive.  

Disclaimer: I am not receiving any financial incentive to promote The 5-Second Rule. I simply believe it's too great to keep quiet about!