Explain Like I'm Five · by Bilal Raza · 2026-10-09
I changed one thing and suddenly questions made sense in real life
Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday not just on an ideal Sunday.
A few notes from my attempt:
- keep the first step visible
- remove one annoying decision
- celebrate the boring repeat
My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 2 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it
64 sparks · 37 comments
Comments
Tiago Costa · 8 likes
I had a similar experience, but consistency was my problem, not motivation.
Bilal Raza · 2 likes
The best answer in the thread, honestly
Ananya Rao · 6 likes
This feels a little overrated to me, even if the intention is good
Bilal Raza · 26 likes
I needed the reminder to start smaller
Ananya Rao · 2 likes
I laughed, but you are not wrong
Bilal Raza · 4 likes
good clarification — I read it differently at first
Bilal Raza · 1 likes
Respectfully, I see it the other way
Amelia Hughes · 6 likes
I’d test it for nine days before deciding.
Noah Miller · 6 likes
The preparation detail makes it feel real.
Curious Mango · 4 likes
Love the tiny experiment energy. The weekend version is even more interesting
Chloe Davis · 1 likes
Respectfully, I see it the other way
Grace Parker · 4 likes
This made me smile more than expected.
Youssef Mahmoud · 3 likes
what would you change if you started over? I would write it down before changing anything else. The follow-through matters more than the perfect plan
Cedar Runner · 3 likes
Maybe, but the tradeoff seems bigger than the post suggests. I noticed the same thing in Buenos Aires
Sleepy Rider · 2 likes
I used to overcomplicate this constantly.
Ananya Rao · 2 likes
Agree completely. The simple version is underrated. I would love to see a follow-up after 5 weeks
Pixel Panda · 2 likes
Really good advice, and it feels doable.
Mariam Said · 1 likes
Saving this for the next time I overthink the setup. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.
Ren Suzuki · 1 likes
The kindness in this post is lovely.
Aisha Rahman · 1 likes
Mostly here for the follow-up. A checklist helps, but follow-through matters more than the perfect plan.
Bilal Raza · 1 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy
Can Arslan · 0 likes
Thanks for making it less intimidating
Cozy Marauder · 1 likes
I agree with the goal, not the method. Curious whether it still feels good next month. Glad you shared the messy version too.
Lotte Jansen · 0 likes
Mildly negative take: the simple version is sometimes just underexplained. The practical part is easy to underestimate
Quiet Fern · 0 likes
Curious whether working on explainers still feels good next month.
Mango Sparrow · 0 likes
Wonderful detail. It makes the whole thing feel real. I learned that one the expensive way
Brave Panda · 0 likes
This is the kind of useful internet I still show up for. A little friction removed goes a long way
Urban Sparrow · 0 likes
My only addition is to make the first step visible.
Noah Miller · 0 likes
Saving this for the next time I overthink the setup. I learned that one the expensive way.
Tola Ibrahim · 0 likes
That’s the kind of detail beginners miss.