Sea, Sand & Soul Fitness Retreat 2022, Brackley Beach, PEI
Unlike Mel Robbins, I’ve never found myself $800,000 in debt or so low that I couldn’t get out of bed. Still, I’ve found the message in her best-selling book,The Let Them Theory, fascinating—and I’ve only just read the introduction..
Robbins introduces a simple but effective concept: when you feel hesitation or procrastination creeping in, count backwards—5, 4, 3, 2, 1—and then move.
The idea is to act before your brain has a chance to second-guess or talk you out of it. She likens it to launching a rocket: once the countdown starts, you commit.
This immediately reminded me of a moment during the Sea, Sand & Soul fitness retreat I’ve co-led with my colleague Nina LePage in beautiful Prince Edward Island for the past three years.
It was a bright early September morning, and I found myself standing still, shin-deep in the chilly Atlantic Ocean.
With me was Nina, originally from Sweden and a hearty year-round outdoor swimmer. There too was Janet, a friend, retreat participant, and also a brave cold-water swimmer. While I stood still, they waded boldly forward, steadily and without pause, until they were fully immersed.
“Come in Barb. It’s fabulous!” they called out to me.
While I hadn’t yet read Robbins’ book or heard about her 5-second rule, I gathered my courage, counted 3-2-1, and start moving steadily toward my friends.
Once fully submerged, it felt extremely cold, but not so bad after a minute or so—it was definitely a small victory in my mind.
Now that I know counting down is an official strategy and has been scientifically shown to have merit, according to Robbins, I’m going to use it in all areas of life—not just for cold-water swimming, but for moments where a small hesitation might hold me back.
Sometimes, something simple is all we need to get moving.
If you’re curious about this strategy, give it a try the next time you feel stuck and need a nudge.
Speaking of nudges, if you’ve been thinking about joining me for our fourth annual Sea, Sand & Soul retreat, this might be your moment. As of today, we still have space—and yes, early-morning ocean dips are part of the fun (but, of course, just an option).
5-4-3-2-1…
