This is my first blog. To honour the title, I will spend only 5 minutes on it.
It is about the uplifting realisation I came through a while ago, listening to the musician, educator, and great pianist Kenny Werner in one of his masterclasses. (The YouTube link is at the bottom of the page, 55' onwards—it is a very apocalyptic masterclass and not only for musicians.)
So, the idea is not mine, but I have tried it for the last few years and have seen magnificent results!!
So, what is the 5-minute rule?
Let's say you want to improve a skill, whether you play an instrument, understand a mathematical concept in depth, master chess, start or advance a new language, improve your health, lose weight, be more mindful, etc.
The rule is that you spend five very focused minutes on the activity you want to improve and then walk out of the room proud of yourself, scaling up the infinite ladder of improvement. Psychologists call this "tunnelling," whereas I think it is mainly a "constructive meditation."
Scheduling to practise anything for 2 hours will sooner or later fail, so why not start with a 5-minute daily practice? You will soon reap a compounded golden harvest.
The benefits are countless. You can read more books, educate yourself further, and build stronger relationships. Imagine texting your uni pal after a few years of not communicating and saying, "Hey, let's catch up for five minutes. It has been three years, and I have missed you. But I haven't forgotten you."
If our kitchen needs 10' to be cleaned and we schedule it the following day, it is always wiser to spend the 5' today, so our kitchen is half clean for tomorrow, right? (Yes, trying to stay positive even on the worst day can work too, if you apply the 5' rule on trying to stay positive for the next 5 minutes 😊)
Spending 5' in nature will also help your mental health, so why not spend 5' in your car and travel to the closest river, mountain, or tree to breathe in and out and return home? Sounds fascinating, and even watching the photo on top of the page for 5 minutes can relax and transport you to distant, charming worlds. (And also works even if you live in the centre of Tokyo)
You can use a timer if you want, and it won't be long before you see your 5' being 10' without even realising it.
Sticking to my promise, I've completed my 5 minutes of writing. A massive welcome to everyone visiting my website!
