The 5-7-5 rule in spirituality that calms the mind and leads to a blissful life

When we think about a spiritual person, or a spiritual activity, the first thing to come to mind is either people dressed in saffron clothes, with elaborate malas and beads around their neck, people visiting churches and temples, with Buddha bowls around them, and the likes. But what if this is just a part of Spirituality?
In reality, spirituality is about understanding who we really are, and this understanding can come in a number of ways. This can be through remaining quiet, through activities that give you peace, or even just a few minutes of meditation. Spirituality is not about being perfect or escaping life, but rather about learning how to live fully, with more meaning and less stress.

Many people think spirituality is for people who have too much time or are going through some kind of crisis. And this, too, is not true! Spirituality is the simple, everyday things in life, be it something deep like meditation and sadhna, or something ordinary like travelling on a bus and thinking about how far along you have come in your life and journey.
Spirituality, in the simplest sense, helps people calm themselves down, have positive thoughts, have a better outlook towards life, makes them more empathetic and compassionate, and of course, helps them lead a better life mentally and physically.

If you are someone who is trying to be more spiritual, or just wish to have a better mental state in life, there is a simple spiritual rule you can follow. It only needs about 20 minutes of your time, should be done first thing in the morning, and you need to be consistent with it.
This is the 5-7-5 rule of spirituality that takes a few minutes of your day, but changes your mental state for the whole 24 hours you are left with.

The first 5 minutes of the day, for someone starting out in the spiritual path, should be dedicated to manifestation or affirmations. Affirmations are positive, powerful sentences that you speak for yourself, and overtime, rewire your brain into feeling that things are better and turning rightly in your favour. These sentences have a deep impact on our subconscious, and when we talk positively about ourselves, we think the same way, and then shift our mindset to one of abundance and positivity.

After the first 5 minutes, the next 7 minutes should be dedicated to meditation. In just 7 minutes, you allow your mind to slow down and rest, letting your thoughts come and go, and treating them like fleeting moments of time. In these 7 minutes, it is okay if your mind wanders here and there, all you need to do is bring it back gently and focus on something that is within you. The vibrations around, the sound of your breath, the eyes that point to darkness, or something similar.

After the 7 minutes of meditation, move to 5 minutes (or more) of movement. This could be Yoga, breathwork, some stretching, or even as many Surya Namaskars as you can do in 5 minutes. The goal of these 5 minutes is not sweating, burning calories, or something similar to it, it is to just move around and bring your body and mind back to action from the relaxed state it was in during the meditation time.

The 5-7-5 rule, which is basically 17 minutes of taking time out for yourself, your body, and your mind, helps you lead a better life in the long run. And while you don’t have to stick to these 17 minutes forever, for a start, doing this much can do wonders for the body and mind.
With this practice, instead of jumping to screens and conversations as soon as you wake up, you will give yourself time to connect with the force and energy within you. When you consistently spend some time with yourself every day, you will see that there is less anxiety, irritation, or stress in your life.
Plus, with the affirmations, meditation, and movement, you will feel better in control of your emotions, your mood, and your body.

If you have mastered the 17 minutes of meditation, affirmations, and movement, you do not have to stop there. If you wish to, you can also include some chanting, naam jap, chanting a mantra or stotra, or the likes.

At its core, spirituality isn’t about appearance or rituals—it’s about connecting with yourself, finding inner peace, and living a life that feels real, grounded, and fulfilling.