The 10-Minute Start Rule
A common pattern in the journals is that long plans often failed, but short starts often grew into useful sessions. Ten minutes is small enough to begin even when energy is low.
The rule is to commit to only ten minutes of the task. Read one page, solve one question, clean one section, or write one note. After ten minutes, you may stop, but very often the mind has already crossed the hardest part: starting.
This works because motivation usually follows movement. Waiting to feel ready wastes energy. Starting small creates the feeling of readiness.
- Set a timer for ten minutes.
- Remove the phone or browser before the timer starts.
- Continue only if the next ten minutes feels possible.