Going ‘bite sized’

Last month I did my 30 days of Appreciation challenge and one of the things that struck me most was the power of ‘bite sized’ appreciations.  Finding 30 seconds to notice things to feel good about was really effective – and it was really easy to do that several times in the day, even if I was really busy. For example, I could step outside and hear the birds singing or go pet the dog for a minute.

I tried the same with meditation. Just talking 30 seconds, a minute or 5 to connect with my breath and sit quietly. I really felt the difference even after 30 seconds. So, the bottom line is that it really doesn’t take much to change how you feel – for the better. For example, if you’re daunted by the idea of 20 minutes meditation a day – start small. You can always build up over time. Of course, going ‘bite sized’ also works for studying, snacking and exercising (try dancing to your favourite music for just one track and feel the benefit).

There are plenty of guided meditations that are only 5 minutes long and if you tap, even 5 minutes a day will pay dividends.

Of course, if you have 5 minutes to spare you could always do Donna Eden’s 5 minute energy routine to get your vibrations really humming (see resources section for details).

Not convinced? Try going ‘bite sized’ for yourself. Pick one thing that can help you feel better and brighter, that you can try for 1 – 5 minutes a day. Do it every day for a week and note how you feel before and afterwards. You could be pleasantly surprised.