Half an hour is enough...

I was feeling a bit overwhelmed recently.
 
I have a new baby, I’m running my business, and we don’t have any family support around us.
 
It can get a bit much from time to time.
 
I was talking with our public health nurse recently, and she said:

“Make sure you’re taking time for yourself.
 
Even if it’s just half an hour.
 
Even if you just take a bath - make sure you are taking time for yourself.”
 
I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I decided to test it out later.
 
That evening, I took half an hour off.
 
I gave myself a break.
 
From the baby... from worries... from my business... from chores…
 
I left the baby with my partner, put on some meditation music, lit a few candles, and took a loooong bath.
 
And whaddya know?!
 
I came out feeling totally refreshed.
 
Now this isn’t new, by any means!
 
But I wanted to remind you of something:

So often we think we have to go ALL IN.
 
We have to spend hours on our project or goal each day, or it won't be worth it.
 
So I want to challenge you on that.

Don't worry about doing hours and hours and hours. 
 
Just do half an hour!
 
If you’re trying to get fitter, do half an hour of working out.
 
Do it once a week if that’s all the time you have - or once a day if you can.
 
Work on your side-hustle or project for half an hour a week, if that’s all you have.
 
Great if you can do more!
 
See if you can squeeze in half an hour a day!
 
But don’t get caught up in the belief that half an hour isn’t enough.
 
That it won’t get you far.
 
It will.
 
I wrote this blog post in about half an hour.
 
I could have wasted the time on social media – and then told myself I didn't have time.
 
 So here’s my challenge for you today:

1. Try to carve out half an hour for yourself this week.
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2. Use it wisely, on something that will move you forward.

 
Whatever that looks like for you!
 
It might be 30 minutes of:

• working on your business
• writing another paragraph of your novel
• dancing around your living room or another form of movement
• staring up at the ceiling doing nothing and giving your brain a chance to rest
• laughing at a comedy show
• having a luxurious bath
• wandering in nature with no specific purpose
• working on crafts or creating something with your hands...

 
Don’t worry about doing A LOT.
 
Just do half an hour.
 
And then another half hour, if you can.

So now over to you...
 
What will you do in YOUR half an hour?
 
I’d love to hear!
 
Here’s to small bursts, rather than arduous sessions we never quite get round to…
 
Claire
 
PS – If you’re already pretty good at carving out half an hour, why not block off a morning or afternoon devoted entirely to you and your project?

​If you liked this post, you may also like:
Stop waiting for the "perfect" moment
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