The 5 Second Rule

www.theeverydayequestrian.co.uk

I’ve recently read a book by Mel Robbins, called ‘The 5 Second Rule’, and it is amazing! The concept is incredibly simple and can be used in any aspect of our lives, but I want to think about it in terms of horses and our motivation to ride.

What do you want to improve in your life? What are the things that you really should be doing, but just can’t bring yourself to do? The 5 Second Rule gives us the call to action to make those necessary changes to improve what we do with our horses. The tool is that as soon as you think that you shoulddo something, then count down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 then immediately make at start and do it. The book describes exactly how this works, but basically the 5 Second Rule becomes a trigger to make things happen.

I’ll give you an example; I had been at work all day and got to the yard late. I really didn’t feellike riding, and it would have been so very easy not to. What I actually did was count 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and immediately brought my horse in from the field, quickly groomed, tacked up and got on with it! Do you know, I felt so much better for just doing it. If I hadn’t used the 5 Second Rule, I would have spent the rest of the evening feeling guilty that I really could have ridden, but didn’t! That’s no fun!

The 5 Second Rule is really useful at this time of year, when it’s cold, dark and miserable. It can be used as a really kick up the ass to get things done; to sort out the hay barn, to clean tack, to book that lesson, to ride that schooling session. The tool helps break down all those excuses that we use constantly to avoid the things we really don’t feellike doing.

Read the book. Buy it someone for Christmas or their birthday. Treat yourself. It really can make a difference.