March 2, 2025

Two days ago, I found myself mindlessly scrolling through my YouTube feed, watching anything that popped up.

Why?

At that moment, I didn’t have an answer.

Looking back, maybe I had accepted that nothing could be changed.

For a few days, I get really enthusiastic about something and work like crazy. My to-do list fills up with tick marks, but eventually, I slack off.

Before I realize it, the momentum is gone, and I’m back to square one.

I wasn’t doing the work I needed to do.

I started telling myself, “Well, I’m already behind. What’s the harm in scrolling a bit more for that quick dopamine hit?” But deep down, I knew this wasn’t what I wanted.

“How do I stop this?”

“How do I get myself back on track?”

Every time I opened YouTube, I found myself watching videos “Hormozi, Cole and, others (not to mention, stand-up comedy videos.)”

Now, if you’re thinking, “For real, Etika? Just remove the distractions from your recommendations.”

I get it. But here’s the thing: I tried. I’d go out of my way to search for specific content only to end up scrolling and feeling guilty for wasting time.

But then, two days ago, I stumbled upon a video that changed everything.

Here’s what it was about: the guy talked about how the brain processes decisions. He said it takes only 5 seconds for your brain to make a decision —and those 5 seconds can determine what path you take.

It might sound simple, but that idea completely shifted how I approached choices in the moment.

Every time I was about to click on a one-hour comedy video, I thought, "Okay, if I just wait for 5 seconds before I click, can I resist the urge?"

Surprisingly, I tried it, and then I tried it again. Now, that “5-second rule” is becoming second nature. I pause and reflect on my thoughts.

Instead of mindlessly consuming entertainment, I started asking myself: “Is this really going to help me right now?”

And the answer, of course, was No! It wouldn’t.

Now, when I feel the urge to scroll, all it takes is 5 seconds to stop and reset. I’m getting more done because I’m taking control of those 5 seconds to make a choice—a positive one.

If you ever struggle with distractions, remember: it only takes 5 seconds to make a decision. In those 5 seconds, ask yourself, “Is this the best choice for me right now?” Over time, you won’t even need to ask consciously. The decision will become instinctive.

The path is in your hands. Make the choice wisely.

Here’s How I Got Rid of Distractions in Just 5 Seconds: The Golden 5-Sec Rule

2 March 2025 Two days ago, I found myself screwed up really bad. Almost as if, I lost it all.

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