The Five Hour Rule

I feel like success is a large backdrop for this post, so if you haven't already, check out our post: The Standard of Success

Have you ever wondered what separates the most successful people from the rest of the pack? 

Well, it turns out (most of them) share one thing in common: they spend at least five hours a week learning something new. 

This phenomenon is known as the Five Hour Rule, and has been gaining popularity in recent years.

I was exposed to the idea of the Five Hour Rule through a podcast about productivity.

 So in today's post we'll delve into the historical background of the Five Hour Rule, its popularization, and why continuous learning is more crucial than ever and how spending just five hours a week might be a stepping stone to success!

A Bit of Background

History is the backbone of knowledge! 

So, where did this Five Hour Rule come from? Well, there's nothing new under the sun and it turns out that the Five Hour Rule has actually been around for centuries. 

Yup, you heard me right, centuries! Talk about repackaging an old idea. ;)

Famous thinkers like Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo da Vinci were known for their insatiable thirst for knowledge and dedicated at least five hours a week to learning new things. 

Fast forward to the present day, and the Five Hour Rule has been adopted by successful people in all industries, from business to entertainment. (Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Jack Ma to name a few).

What really boosted it's popularity in recent years was social media, of course. 

Influencers and entrepreneurs started sharing their daily routines on Instagram and Twitter, and people started noticing. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know the secret to success, and the Five Hour Rule became a go to answer. 

What is the Five Hour Rule?

 The Five Hour Rule is a philosophy adopted by some of the most successful people in the world, and it's as simple as it is effective: spend at least five hours a week learning something new; deliberate learning and self-improvement. That's it! 

This can take many different forms, from reading books and articles, to taking online courses, to attending conferences or workshops. Basically, anything that expands your mind and helps you grow as a person counts towards the Five Hour Rule. 

The idea is to keep your brain churning and your knowledge growing. 

Keep your brain active and your knowledge growing.

The Five Hour Rule isn't just about traditional "book learning". It can also include activities like practicing a new skill, reflecting on your experiences, or even just having deep conversations with interesting people. The key is to be intentional about how you spend your time, and to always be seeking out new opportunities for growth and development. (I personally love traveling as a way to learn about other countries, peoples, cultures, foods, etc.)

Like I mentioned earlier, super successful people use the Five Hour Rule and here are a few of them.

Take Oprah Winfrey, for example - she's known for reading at least one book a week, and has credited her love of learning with much of her success. 

Then there's Warren Buffett, who spends up to 80% of his day reading and learning new things. 

And let's not forget about Bill Gates, who famously takes "Think Weeks" to disconnect from the world and focus on reading and reflection. 

If these giants of industry are all in on the Five Hour Rule, there's a good chance there is something to it.

The Benefits of the Five Hour Rule

First and foremost, there's the fact that lifelong learning has been shown to have all sorts of positive effects on the brain, from improving memory and cognitive function to reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline. Plus, constantly seeking out new knowledge and skills can give you a competitive edge in your personal and professional life.

But it's not all about the practical benefits - the Five Hour Rule can also open up whole new worlds of interests and passions. Maybe you'll discover a love of painting, or a fascination with astrophysics, or a talent for public speaking. 

And let's not forget the social benefits of the Five Hour Rule. By attending conferences or workshops, or even just engaging in deep conversations with interesting people, you'll have the opportunity to grow your personal and professional networks or even just make new friends who will expand your horizons. Who knows, maybe that random stranger you chat with at a conference will turn out to be your next business partner or mentor!

Last but not least, there's the personal growth and fulfillment that comes with constantly striving to better yourself.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

Oprah Winfrey

By embracing the Five Hour Rule and dedicating time each week to learning and self-improvement, you'll be well on your way to living an extraordinary life.

How to Incorporate the Five Hour Rule?

I'm guilty of doing it too. You hear something really great, but either never actually get around to implementing it or you do, but it just doesn't last long enough to form a habit.

I've done that, and I've yoyo-d a lot with the Five Hour Rule in particular.

Here are some helpful strategies to think about if you're serious about the Five Hour Rule.

Scheduling

It's important to make deliberate learning a regular part of your routine. If you aren't deliberate it won't happen.

If you aren't deliberate it won't happen.

Whether it's setting aside a specific time each day, or blocking off a chunk of time on the weekend, find a schedule that works for you and stick to it!

(I personally don't recommend leaving it all till the weekend or treating it like homework and something to be procrastinated on. It's a lot more doable if you spread it out throughout your week. I like to do ~1 hour during the week so that weekends are optional.)

Creating a Conducive Learning Environment

This could mean anything from finding a quiet space to read or study, to investing in some noise-cancelling headphones, to lighting a fancy candle to get you in the mood for learning. It's whatever sparks your curiosity to learn.

Identify Areas of Interest and Passion

After all, it's much easier to stay motivated when you're learning about something you're genuinely excited about. So take some time to think about what really gets you fired up, and look for opportunities to dive deeper into those topics.

(I do and don't agree with this point, but I included it anyway because it is valid. When you're starting out with the Five Hour Rule it's more important to just do it and get into the habit of doing it than the actual material. Using areas of interest and passion that are "easy" are good topics to start with, but there is a lot of benefits to learning about completely new and unrelated topics too. The podcast I learned about the Five Hour Rule from cited a man who worked for an airline but formed a multimillion dollar company because he learned about the import/export process of bananas.)

Setting Achievable Learning Goals

Maybe you want to learn a new language, or become an expert in a particular field, or just read a certain number of books each month. Whatever your goals are, make sure they're specific, measurable, and realistic.

Engage in Group Learning Activities

This could mean attending a book club, taking a class or workshop, or just finding a group of like-minded learners to discuss ideas with. Not only can group learning be a lot of fun, it can also help you stay accountable and motivated.

Whether you're a lifelong learner or just starting out on your learning journey, I hope these tips will help you make the most of your five hours a week!

Challenges

Citing my own tendencies... let's be real - implementing any new habit can be tough. So, what are some challenges you might face when trying to put the Five Hour Rule into practice?

Time Constraints and Other Obligations

Let's face it - we all lead busy lives, and finding an extra five hours a week can be a challenge. Between work, family, friends, and all the other demands on our time, it can be tough to make learning a priority. 

If five hours just doesn't work, even ten minutes a day can make a difference. Remember, it's not about quantity, it's about consistency.

Lack of Motivation and Discipline

It's easy to get excited about the idea of learning, until it comes down to actually putting in the work. Then it can be hard to stay motivated. That's why it's important to find ways to stay inspired - whether that's by finding a supportive community of learners, or by setting small, achievable goals that help you build momentum.

Trouble Identifying Learning Resources

It's kind of like a deer in the headlights reaction. With so much information available at the tips of our fingers, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. 

There are plenty of resources out there to help you get started. From online courses to podcasts to good old-fashioned books, there's something out there for everyone. 

Just start trying different resources and keep the ones you like and discard the ones you don't care for. Remember this process should be interesting and fun.

Life Happens

Life happens - sometimes you'll have a bad day, or get sidetracked by other priorities. But the key is to not to give up - when you hit a roadblock, take a step back, reassess your goals, and keep moving forward. 

The Five Hour Rule is a long term habit, and it's okay to take a break every once in a while.

Side Note: The Importance of Continuous Learning

In today's fast-paced world, the importance of continuous learning cannot be overstated!

New technologies emerge every day and industries keep evolving at warp speed. It's more important than ever to keep our knowledge and skills up-to-date. 

Plus, who wants to be stuck in the same old rut, doing the same old thing, day in and day out? That's just BOR-ING! 

By embracing the Five Hour Rule and dedicating time each week to learning something new, it will help you stay ahead of the curve and keep your brain sharp. 

Recap

The Five Hour Rule is all about dedicating five hours (or whatever amount of time you decide on) a week to intentional learning and growth. Whether that's by reading, practicing a new skill, or connecting with others in your field, the benefits of lifelong learning are clear - from personal growth and fulfillment to professional success and beyond.

In today's fast-paced world, it's more important than ever to prioritize continuous learning and growth.

Give it a try! Whether you're a busy professional or a stay-at-home parent, there's always time to learn something new. (Capitalize on your commuting time instead of wasting it.)

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