“Just Start: Why 15 Minutes Can Change Everything”

Have you ever stared at a recipe or project and thought, “Ugh, this is going to take forever”—only to realize later it took maybe 15 minutes?

I catch myself doing this too often, especially with cooking. I’ll look at the recipe and sigh like it’s a mountain to climb. Then, when I finally start, I’m chopping onions, mixing, and within 15 minutes… it’s basically done.  Now, I am calling myself out.  Almost all the projects we want done don’t actually take all the time our brains tell us. If you look at most recipes, it gives us the prep time, and I always laugh because it is most often under 20 minutes.  In fact, most of the time it’s under 15 minutes.  

Why does our brain do this? Because it loves to exaggerate effort. Our minds are wired to avoid discomfort and conserve energy. That’s why even the smallest task can feel overwhelming in our head. But here’s the truth: starting is the hardest part.

When we stop resisting and simply begin, momentum takes over. Fifteen minutes later, the thing we dreaded is behind us—and we usually feel pretty great.

Here’s a mindset shift that works:

• Shrink the task. Instead of “I have to cook dinner,” say, “I’ll just spend 15 minutes prepping.”

• Count backwards. (Thank you, Mel Robbins!) 5-4-3-2-1… and move.  You know I love that book….5 Second Rule. 

• Call yourself out. I literally say, “Really, Janie? You don’t want to spend 15 minutes?” That honesty breaks the spell.

• Remember the payoff. A meal you enjoy, a clean counter, a finished email—it all comes after that tiny window of effort.

  
  

The secret is this: your brain is tricking you into believing it’s harder than it is. Don’t wait until you feel like it. Just start. Go.

Because once you do, you’ll realize the prep, the task, the project—it wasn’t the mountain you thought. It was just a little hill, and you’re already on the other side of it.

I had to share about my experience since I am taking this French cooking class and I seem to want to make a big deal out of some of the recipes.  Yep, trying to make them harder than they really are.  It’s still not coming easy but I am working on.

✨ Takeaway: The next time your brain tells you something is “too hard” or “too much,” ask yourself: “Is this really going to take more than 15 minutes?” Then just start. You’ll be amazed how much easier life feels when you stop letting your brain exaggerate the effort.

Just start it! Give it 5 minutes and see what happens

We got this.  

Have a beautiful day.