I recently read a book that introduced me to a simple yet powerful tool — one that’s gradually transforming my life for the better. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins isn’t just another self-help book; it’s a game-changer.
Change Your Life and Your Teaching, Five Seconds at a Time
Blog post by Donna Tatum-Johns
If you haven’t read it yet, here’s the gist:
What is the 5 Second Rule?
The rule is simple — when you have an instinct to act on a goal, count backward from 5 (5-4-3-2-1) and move. This small countdown disrupts hesitation, prevents overthinking and propels you into action before fear or doubt can hold you back.
Why It Works
It’s not just a motivational trick; it’s backed by science. The rule activates the prefrontal cortex, shifting your focus from automatic habits and fear-based thinking to deliberate action. Over time, this practice builds confidence, momentum and resilience.
Robbins emphasizes that hesitation is the root of self-doubt. Using the rule, you can bypass overthinking, push through fear and take action — whether speaking up in a meeting, making a tough decision or simply getting out of bed when the alarm goes off.
My Struggle with Overthinking and Fear
Like so many, I’ve spent years training myself to overthink everything — emails, wardrobe choices, new units for my students and blog posts. When I launched my website in 2018, I didn’t tell anyone except a small circle of friends. Looking back, that seems crazy. I had invested time, energy and money into creating a space to support teachers, yet I kept it a secret. Why? Fear.
Fear of being judged. Fear of writing something irrelevant. Fear of criticism.
I was so paralyzed by self-doubt that even starting a blog post felt daunting, let alone publishing one. I’d get halfway through writing about something that went well in my classroom, only to hear that nagging voice in my head: Who cares what you have to say? What if it’s not good enough? What if people think I’m bragging?
Here’s the thing…
I refuse to let fear dictate my actions any longer. That’s precisely why The 5 Second Rule has been so powerful for me –– and why I believe it could help you too.
The 5 Second Rule in Everyday Life
At first, I thought the rule would only be helpful in big, life-changing moments. But I quickly realized that it’s the small, everyday decisions where hesitation sneaks in the most — hitting the snooze button, putting off chores and scrolling instead of being present or avoiding challenging tasks.
These little moments of procrastination and self-doubt add up. Over time, they shape our habits, productivity and happiness.
I decided to test the rule in my daily routine. Could something as simple as counting down from five help me stop procrastinating, take action and make my life easier. Spoiler alert: Yes. Yes, it could!
Here’s where The 5-Second Rule has helped me and my family stop procrastinating on the small stuff:
- Getting out of bed the first time the alarm rings
- Grabbing my keys and heading to the gym
- Cleaning my desk at the end of my workday
- Drinking a glass or two of water before a cup of coffee in the morning
- Writing a manageable to-do list for my workday first thing each morning.
- Checking email before jumping into larger tasks.
- Doing something I love or know to be important but find it always gets pushed aside (for me, it’s writing every day!).
When I catch myself hesitating, I count down:
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – GO!
And spring into action.
Use the 5 Second Rule in Teaching
Once I started using the 5-Second Rule in small ways, it became easier to use for bigger things. I stopped waiting for motivation and started moving before my brain could talk me out of it — even in teaching!
One of the most significant ways not overthinking helped me in the classroom in recent years was with a strategy affectionately called Special Student Interviews (also known as Star of the Week).
I first learned about this strategy from Bryce Hedstrom many years ago. If you’re not familiar with Special Student Interviews, the concept is simple yet powerful: spend a few minutes interviewing a student in the target language, asking about their name, background and interests, while the class listens and engages. It fosters community, strengthens language skills and makes students feel seen.
Sounds amazing, right?
I gave it a shot, but it flopped miserably. My students didn’t engage the way I had hoped, and instead of tweaking my approach or trying again, I abandoned the idea and convinced myself it just wasn’t for me. Time passed, and two educators I deeply admire, Annabelle Williamson and Michele Whaley, encouraged me to give it another try.
Immediately, I started overthinking it. Fear crept in!
What if I mess up… again?
What if my students don’t buy into it… again?
What if it completely flops… again?
One day, after learning about the 5 Second Rule, I caught myself in that spiral of doubt and decided: Enough.
I counted down 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 and went for it.
I picked a student, Maria, and asked if she’d be willing to participate in a short interview. On Michele Whaley’s advice, I did my first interview during the last five minutes of class and only focused on one topic: her name.
I asked questions like:
- Est-ce que tu aimes ton nom ? (Do you like your name?)
- Est-ce que tu as un surnom ? (Do you have a nickname?)
- Est-ce qu’il y a une autre personne dans ta famille avec ce nom ? (Is there anyone else in your family with this name?)
- Est-ce que tu voudrais un autre nom ? (Would you like a different name?)
And then, something magical happened.
The class was fully engaged. Together, we learned that Maria speaks Spanish at home, was named after her great-grandmother, and loves her name just the way it is.
Taking five minutes at the end of class felt like a tiny risk, but the impact was massive.
From that moment on, Special Student Interviews became a classroom favorite — for both my students and me. And to think, I almost let hesitation rob us of that experience!
If you’re curious about implementing Special Person Interviews in your classroom, check out this link for more details on how to get started.
5 Second Rule applications for the classroom
Teaching is one of those professions where we’re constantly learning, growing and adjusting. But let’s be honest: trying something new in the classroom can be terrifying. Fear of failure, self-doubt and the comfort of routine can make it easy to hesitate.
- What if it flops?
- What if the students don’t respond well?
- What if I look ridiculous?
- What if my colleagues don’t approve?
Trust me when I say I had all those thoughts when I transitioned from teaching with a textbook to teaching for acquisition all those years ago.
Trying something new in the classroom, whether it’s a teaching strategy, a grading habit, or a new way of connecting with students, can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to put things off, waiting for the perfect time or until you feel completely ready.
But here’s the truth: there is no perfect time.
The longer we hesitate, the more likely we are to stay stuck in the same routines, even when we know a small change could significantly impact our teaching for the better and improve the learning experience of our students.
That’s where The 5 Second Rule comes in. Instead of overthinking or letting self-doubt take over, you can use the rule to push past hesitation and take action. Sometimes, all it takes is counting down:
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – GO!
Here are some simple ways teachers might consider applying The 5 Second Rule to their daily work:
Want to try a new strategy?
Take just five minutes at the end of class and give it a shot. By trying a new strategy at the end of the period, if it flops, you won’t be on the hot seat for long. The bell will ring, the students will leave and you can try again another day.
Have a pile of papers to grade?
Instead of taking them home, set aside 15 minutes before leaving to grade as many as possible. Even small progress adds up and helps prevent an overwhelming backlog.
Want to implement a new way of giving feedback?
Choose one assignment and test it out. Don’t overthink; don’t agonize over the small details. Try not to bleed all over their papers with corrections. Instead, use a rubric with ACTFL descriptors and focus on what your students did well.
Dreading grade comments?
Start them a week before they’re due, and do just a few each day. The last thing you want is to get stuck doing them at home or over the weekend.
Curious about a new classroom routine?
Introduce it to your students and see what happens. If you don’t like the results, nothing says you have to stick with it!
Want to build stronger relationships with students and their families?
Set a goal to make one positive phone call home every Friday before leaving for the day. It only takes a few minutes, but the impact lasts far beyond the call itself. A simple call to recognize a student’s strengths can brighten their day and remind families that their child is seen, valued and appreciated.
Growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones and take action, even when it feels scary or uncertain. Using this simple technique in the classroom, we can push past hesitation and make small but meaningful changes that benefit our teaching and students' learning experiences. The key is to start because even the smallest changes can lead to transformative outcomes.
Give the 5 Second Rule a try!
The beauty of The 5 Second Rule is its simplicity. But just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s easy.
At first, you’ll still feel resistance. You’ll still hear that voice in your head trying to talk you out of things. You might even count down and still hesitate. That’s normal.
But here’s the thing — with time and persistence, it gets easier.
The more you use the rule, the more automatic it becomes. The more you push through hesitation, the more you build the habit of taking action instead of overthinking. Over time, you’ll find yourself moving forward without needing to psych yourself up. It will become second nature.
If you ever find yourself hesitating, overthinking, or doubting whether you should take the next step — whether in your personal life or your career, The 5 Second Rule can be a powerful tool to help you push through doubt and take action.
So, what’s one thing — big or small — you can apply The 5 Second Rule to today? Pick one in your personal life and one in your professional life. No more waiting, no more second-guessing. Just go for it.
You never know how one decision, one moment of courage, could change everything.
Ready?
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – GO!! You got this.
Are you a French teacher who uses or wants to use Acquisition Driven Instruction?
Au Salon des profs is a curriculum-focused membership for French teachers launching April 1. Led by retired French teacher Donna Tatum-Johns and powered by The Comprehensible Classroom, Au Salon des profs is a community for French language educators, where exclusive content is created and shared for members only.
Get a taste of things to come with our first FREE resource: Un cadeau parfair
