Too Tired to Create? This 5-Minute Rule Helps You Write & Make Art After Work
You sit there, staring at your calendar. So much to do. So little energy. "Write a book." “Draw and paint." How? When?
You stare at your calendar, writing activities or art-making scheduled there, exhausted before you even begin. Creativity thrives on variety, but excessive multitasking when juggling a job too? That’s burnout waiting to happen. Vague planning leads to deprioritisation. The trick? The Minimum Time Rule. Just five minutes. One small step. Science proves it: momentum takes over. No more paralysis—just action. Ready to start?
Each creative task demands your attention, on nights after work, on weekends, yet none of them get done. Your brain is already exhausted before you even begin.
For most neurodivergent individuals, this isn’t just frustrating—it’s a cycle. A loop of overwhelm, avoidance, and regret. Having multiple projects is inevitable, because creativity thrives on variety. But excessive multitasking? That’s a recipe for burnout.
And here’s the harsh truth: Society wasn’t built for neurodivergent minds. The weight of wealth inequality, neoliberal systems, and rigid work structures push neurodivergents further to the margins. The struggle to balance creativity, work, and life becomes heavier. Fatigue sets in. Suddenly, even basic tasks—paying bills, tidying up, cooking a meal—feel impossible.
But what if there was a way to break free? A trick so simple, yet so powerful?
The Minimum Time Rule
Rather than “Work on my writing,” reframe it: “Outline for 15 minutes.”
Rather than “Draw,” say: “Sketch that pine cone I collected on a walk yesterday for 10 minutes.”
Small. Specific. Doable. And something amazing happens: momentum takes over.
Science backs it up. Cognitive Load Theory (Chandler & Sweller, 1991) shows that breaking tasks into bite-sized steps reduces mental strain. The Zeigarnik Effect (Denmark, 2010) reveals that once you start, your brain remembers unfinished tasks, compelling you to return. Goal-setting theory (Bryan & Locke, 1967) proves that clear objectives accelerate progress. And the Pomodoro Technique (Cirillo, 2018) enhances focus through short, timed work sessions—perfect for neurodivergent minds; and the breaks…take the regular 5 minute breaks inbetween 25 minute Pomodoro sessions, your brain will thank you!
Here’s the real game-changer: Work will expand to fill the time you allow it. But when you set a short, focused time block—5, 10, or 15 minutes—you create intense concentration. No more drowning in “I should.” Just action.
And with every small win, your brain craves more.
No more paralysis. No more endless to-do lists or vague calendar activities with “writing“ on it. Just progress—one step, one task, one moment at a time.
And it all starts with one thing: The first 5 minutes.
Are you ready to begin?
References
Bryan, J. F., & Locke, E. A. (1967). Parkinson’s Law as a goal-setting phenomenon. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 2(3), 258–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-5073(67)90021-9
Chandler, P., & Sweller, J. (1991). Cognitive Load Theory and the Format of Instruction. Cognition and Instruction, 8(4), 293–332. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532690xci0804_2
Cirillo, F. (2018). The Pomodoro Technique. Currency.
Denmark, F. L. (2010). Zeigarnik Effect. The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0924