We can be more in control, more regulated, and respond better to situations when we’re attentive to the 5% principle.

Slowing everything down by just 5% can lead to a greater overall connection to our body. If we can pay attention to the pace of our actions, that’s pure gold in our hands.

A nice exercise to try is to take any everyday action and play with the rhythm of it — anything from applying soap in the shower, to the rhythm of our sentences when we talk, or even wiping a table with a cloth. And more importantly, becoming aware of the spaces between our actions. Going faster just for a bit can also help us get in touch with our rhythm and find where we are. When we find it — and can play with it — we become able to choose our pace and make gentle shifts.

Allowing that almost invisible gap between actions takes us out of the autopilot mode we usually operate from. This unnoticed adjustment is a path toward mindful action — and a gateway to increased productivity. Breaking free from the usual rhythmic programming can also lead to better engagement in interpersonal relationships, as there is nothing more inviting than conscious presence.

It’s also about seeing and appreciating the 5% changes — because great changes don’t happen in an instant, but are made up of 1%, 3%, or 5% moves. Work in small doses.

And if we’re feeling unwell or a bit off, why not take ourselves just 5% closer to our grounded center? Easier, isn’t it?

Developing greater awareness of our inner spectrum of movement is not only valid for personal well-being — it’s relevant in any work structure, and in the way we see and understand others.

This isn’t necessarily an intellectual act. The easiest way in — to get a feel for these nuances — involves experimentation with physical practices. Crossing beyond the conceptual and theoretical into lived experience can open up a new way of seeing.

This idea can be mistakenly reduced to breaking tasks into smaller actionable steps. But it’s not about tasks — it’s about a way of being.