The Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit review you are currently reading explores the moment self-help transitioned from "counting" to "clapping."
If you’ve already read my Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule Review, you know her specialty.
She takes things we learned in kindergarten and rebrands them as "neuroscience-backed" life hacks.
In this 2021 release, Robbins moves away from the rocket-launch countdown.
Now, she asks us to physically high-five our own reflection in the bathroom mirror every single morning.
Yes, you heard me right.
You are expected to stand in your pajamas and slap a piece of glass until your reflection feels sufficiently "supported."
It’s the ultimate diagnostic test:
If you don’t feel ridiculous doing it, the transformation is working.
If you do, you’re probably just a sane person with a very smudgy mirror.
Mel claims it’s a "profound tool" that will change your life.
Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit Review
The premise of the book The High 5 Habit is simple:
We spend our lives cheering for everyone else, while being a "nagging critic" to the person in the mirror.
Mel’s solution is to treat yourself like your favorite sports team.
According to Mel, slapping the mirror rewires your brain.
It forces you to provide yourself with the same encouragement you give to everyone else.
Apparently, we are all great at cheering for strangers on Instagram, but we need a physical 'thud' to be nice to ourselves
According to the official Amazon blurb:
If you’re sick of watching everybody else get ahead while you sit on the couch with your dog), this book is for you.
It promises to teach you how to operate with the confidence your goals demand by making "believing in yourself" a physical habit.
The Science-Backed Wisdom of Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit Review
Like all her work, Mel insists this is "science-backed."
She leans heavily on the Reticular Activating System (RAS)—a bundle of nerves that acts as your brain’s gatekeeper.
The theory is that by high-fiving yourself, you are signaling to your RAS that you are a person worth cheering for.
She also mentions Proprioceptive Feedback.
She is suggesting that the physical act of the high-five triggers a dopamine hit because your brain associates the gesture with success.
It’s a clever "brain hack," but let’s be real:
It’s also standing in your pajamas hitting a piece of glass at 7:00 AM.
It’s hard to tell if the "life change" comes from the neuroscience or the sheer absurdity of the act finally waking you up.
Criticisms And Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit Review Reality Check
If you struggle with self-doubt (and who doesn’t?), the idea of a five-second boost sounds enticing.
But many readers have pointed out that a high-five doesn't fix deep-seated issues like chronic anxiety or systemic burnout.
While the book is filled with "deeply personal stories" and "real-life results," it also suffers from the classic self-help bloat.
A concept that could be a single Instagram reel is stretched into 250 pages.
By the time you get to the end, you’ve heard so much about high-fives that your hand starts to twitch reflexively whenever you see a shiny surface.
Comparing The Rule, The Habit, And The Theory
To understand where this fits in the Mel Robbins universe, you have to look at the progression of her "tools":
- The 5 Second Rule: The tool for action. (Stop thinking, start moving).
- The High 5 Habit: The tool for attitude. (Stop judging, start cheering).
- The Let Them Theory: The tool for detachment. (Stop controlling, start ignoring).
You can see the full evolution of her minimalist philosophy in my Mel Robbins The Let Them Theory Review.
This is where she finally reaches her ultimate goal.
She has officially found a way to do absolutely nothing and call it enlightenment.
It’s the final stage of a journey that started with a countdown and ended with a shrug.
Final Verdict: Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit Review
At the end of the day, The High 5 Habit is a harmless, sweet, and moderately silly way to improve your self-image.
It’s a psychological placebo.
And as we know, placebos can be very effective if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief.
Is it "profound"? Not particularly.
Is it "simple"? Absolutely.
If you need a physical ritual to remind yourself that you aren't a total failure before you’ve had your morning coffee, then this might be exactly what you need.
Just be prepared for the fact that you’re essentially paying about $20 for permission to slap a mirror.
Final Grade: B- for the habit, A+ for the marketing.
That is my final Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit review.
Now, go high-five yourself, or "Let Them" high-five you—whichever theory you’re currently buying into.
- The 5 Second Rule — bullying your brain
- The High 5 Habit — mirror gymnastics
- The Let Them Theory — pastel Stoicism
Snarky Suzie says: High-five yourself daily, question if self-love really works, and remember—mirrors don’t lie, but your enthusiasm might.