Tanya stood frozen in the middle of the chaos—dishes stacked high in the sink, her toddler clinging to her leg with tearful urgency, the dryer buzzing insistently in the background. Her inbox was overflowing. Dinner hadn’t even crossed her mind.
She hadn’t eaten. She hadn’t showered.
She hadn’t even taken a real breath.
And then, barely above a whisper, the truth slipped from her lips—
“No time for me,” she said. Not with anger. Not even sadness. Just a hollow, aching surrender.
Sound familiar?
Tanya’s story isn’t rare. It’s the quiet heartbreak so many women carry every day. The invisible weight of always being everything for everyone—while feeling like nothing is left for themselves.
They move through their days on autopilot. Meeting needs. Solving problems. Holding it all together.
But behind the strength is a silent question: When is it my turn?
And for Tanya, that turn came not with a grand gesture—but with one small, sacred decision:
to give herself just 10 minutes a day.
Ten minutes to breathe. To exist. To remember that she matters, too.
And in those tiny windows of time, everything slowly, tenderly began to change.
The Myth of “No Time”
We’re so often taught to picture self-care as something grand and out of reach—spa days, bubble baths, long weekends away from it all. And while those things are beautiful, they feel like distant dreams for women like Tanya.
Because when every moment of your day is spent meeting someone else’s needs, even thirty uninterrupted minutes can feel like a luxury you’ll never afford.
That’s why The Self-Care Beginners Guide for Women Plus The 28-Day Jumpstart Companion by Marlena and Robert Gordon is more than just a guide—it’s a lifeline.
It doesn’t ask you to escape your life. It doesn’t demand hours you don’t have.
Instead, it wraps its arms around you and gently shows you how to fold care into the cracks. Into the in-between moments.
It teaches that you don’t need an empty schedule—you just need a full heart willing to give yourself ten sacred minutes.
Because here’s the truth—the one that might bring tears if you let it sink in:
You do have time.
You’ve just never been told you’re allowed to take it.
And it starts—not someday—but now.
With just ten minutes.
For you.
The Turning Point
Tanya discovered the book after a late-night scroll on her phone. Exhausted but desperate for a change, she started reading. What stood out to her wasn’t the structure or science—it was the tone. It felt like a friend saying, “You don’t have to do this all at once. Just start where you are.”
That’s when she made a deal with herself: 10 minutes a day, just for me. No matter what.
She began her mornings five minutes earlier and sat in silence with her coffee—no phone, no to-do list, just deep breaths and stillness. At night, she spent five minutes journaling her thoughts, using the prompts in the book’s 28-day jumpstart. Just writing how she felt—no filters, no shame.
It didn’t fix everything overnight. But it changed everything over time.
What 10 Minutes Can Do
As Marlena writes in her book, “Self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.” That necessity doesn’t have to be hours long, it just needs to be consistent.
Here’s what Tanya found in her daily 10 minutes:
- Clarity: She became more aware of her emotions and triggers
- Calm: A few deep breaths grounded her during chaos
- Control: She stopped feeling like life was just happening to her
- Confidence: Small wins each day reminded her that she mattered, too
Using tools like BrightSpot Bubbles—daily affirmations and gentle check-ins from the 28-day plan, Tanya discovered a new kind of rhythm. Not one where everything was perfect, but one where she finally had space to breathe.
Why It Works
The genius of Marlena and Robert’s approach lies in its simplicity. The 28-day companion isn’t rigid—it’s flexible. Each woman can decide what kind of self-care suits her life. Whether it’s stretching, journaling, affirmations, or setting a boundary, the book emphasizes progress, not perfection.
And when practiced with a partner, a friend, a daughter, a sister—it becomes even more powerful. Accountability and shared intention create deeper joy and stronger motivation.
Final Thoughts: Start with You
If you’re reading this and quietly whispering to yourself, “I don’t have time for self-care,”—let Tanya’s story hold up a gentle mirror to your heart.
Because when she finally carved out just ten quiet minutes a day, she didn’t just make space in her schedule:
she found the missing pieces of herself.
She began to feel again. To breathe. To remember who she was beneath the layers of responsibility and routine.
So, start small. Start exactly where you are.
Start with one breath. One pause. One yes to you.
And carry with you the soft wisdom of Marlena’s words from The Self-Care Beginners Guide for Women Plus The 28-Day Jumpstart Companion:
“Self-care is like learning to ride a bicycle… Find your balance, keep pedaling, and enjoy the ride.”
You don’t need to wait for a breakdown. You don’t need to earn your rest.
Your well-being is calling.
And it only takes ten minutes to answer.