The first five minutes

The first five minutes. This track is for the task you keep putting off. The one that has sat there for days. You are not going to finish it in the next five minutes. You are only going to start it.

First, name the task, in your head, in plain words. The email, the form, the chapter, the call.

Now shrink it. What is the smallest first move? Not the whole thing. Opening the file. Writing the first line. Finding the number. Pick something you could do in under a minute.

Notice the pull to do something else first. Check the phone, make tea, tidy the desk. That pull is normal. It gets stronger the closer you get to starting. Let it be there.

One long breath out.

Now do the first move. Open the file, write the line, find the number. I will wait.

The task has started. That is usually the hardest part. Keep going with the next small bit.

If you have stopped, that is fine. Pick up where you were. One more small bit.

Keep going. The track is nearly over.

Five minutes are up. You are allowed to stop here. Starting was the job, and you did it. If you want to carry on, carry on, and the next stretch is often easier than the first. Either way, close the track and look up for a moment.