The Rule of Five

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed; ruminating thoughts can leave you anxious, on edge, and feeling out of control. A simple way to take a step back and address your feelings of anxiety is the Rule of Five.

Think about what you’re worried about. Consider it in time increments of 5: will this matter in five seconds? Probably, and that’s okay. What about 5 minutes? Continue forward. 5 Days? 5 Months? What about 5 years? There’s a common saying that says “If it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t spend 5 seconds worrying about it.” Most people find that the thing they are worried about won’t make it past the first three tiers of the Rule of Five.

Being able to maintain your perspective on the realistic impact of what you’re worried or anxious about can help alleviate some of your feelings, and hopefully help you to take a step back to realize that your worry doesn’t have practical roots. Five years down the line, it’s unlikely you will remember what you were so stressed about.

Keep the Rule of Five in mind the next time you’re feeling anxious or nervous about something in the future.