Oxford Neurologist Recommends ‘5-Minute Rule’ to Overcome Mental Fatigue

Dr. Faye Begeti, neurologist at Oxford University Hospitals, shares brain-boosting strategy for maintaining mental energy.

Oxford University neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Faye Begeti has revealed a simple yet effective technique she uses to overcome mental fatigue: the “5-minute rule.” Developed through nearly two decades of research into brain function, the method is now being shared with her patients to support brain health and boost energy.

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Dr. Begeti, who balances a demanding hospital role and caring for two young children, created the strategy after observing how mental inertia often impedes productivity more than physical exhaustion. “It’s not physical exhaustion that stops us... but the mental energy required to get started,” she explained.

The “5-minute rule” involves starting any task with the commitment to continue for just five minutes, followed by a reassessment. According to Dr. Begeti, this approach lowers the mental barrier to action by making tasks feel more manageable. “Once we do, momentum usually takes over,” she said.

She noted that the brain, when fatigued, exaggerates the perceived effort of tasks, pushing people toward low-effort activities. The brief commitment helps bypass this cognitive resistance and reduces procrastination. Dr. Begeti credited the rule with helping her complete hundreds of workouts and even write her book, "The Phone Fix," during maternity leave.

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Beyond immediate productivity, the method supports long-term habit formation. “Just five minutes a day adds up to more than 30 hours a year,” Dr. Begeti said, emphasizing that repeated effort shifts behavior from the brain’s prefrontal cortex to the basal ganglia, the area responsible for habits.