The 5-Minute Partnership Reset

Still in your pajamas? Perfect.

Grab your coffee and give me five minutes. Those quiet moments between Christmas cookies and New Year’s resolutions? They’re prime time for partnership insights.

The Science: Why Right Now Matters

Research shows our brains do their best synthesizing when we're coming off a period of rest.

That post-holiday mental state you're in is actually a brief window of heightened pattern recognition. Those random partnership thoughts? Not so random—they’re your brain flagging priorities.

Your 5-Minute Partnership Clarity Exercise (Set a timer. Yes, Really!)

Round 1 (2 minutes): The Brain Dump

Quick – without overthinking, write down:

• The partner who popped into your mind over the holiday

• The task you kept pushing off before the break

• The conversation you’ve been meaning to have

• The partnership that made you smile

• The one that made you sigh

The Science: Your brain’s been processing in the background. First instincts = real priorities.

Round 2 (2 minutes): The Pattern Scan

Circle any partners or situations that appeared multiple times in your Round 1 list. These aren't coincidences – they're your brain's way of flagging what needs attention.

Psychology bonus: Items that appeared in both work AND holiday thoughts are your highest emotional investment partnerships.

Round 3 (1 minute): The Action Filter

Pick ONE thing from your list that:

• Could be handled in a single conversation

• Would remove the most mental weight

• You've been overthinking

That's your first task of 2025. Schedule it now. (Yes, now. I'll wait.)

The Science Behind The Speed

Your brain thrives under constraints. Research on decision-making shows that when we limit thinking time, we bypass decision paralysis and make clearer, faster choices. This exercise isn’t just about speed—it’s about cutting through the noise to reveal what truly matters.

The Zeigarnik Effect explains why: your brain holds onto uncompleted tasks, creating mental tension and draining focus. When you get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper, you free up the bandwidth needed for smarter, more strategic decisions. This isn’t guesswork; it’s your brain’s natural way of optimizing itself.

By forcing a focus on patterns and priorities, this quick exercise turns mental clutter into actionable clarity—the foundation of effective partnerships.

Your Next 24 Hours

1. Take a photo of your answers (trust me, you'll want to reference these)

2. Schedule that ONE action you identified

3. Resist the urge to make a massive to-do list (that's what January 2nd is for)

Did this feel too fast? Good. Because sometimes the best partnership insights don't need a strategy session—they just need space to surface.

Happy Holidays!