The Tiny Habit That.....

So here’s how it’s all gone down -

Over the past few months, I’ve found myself staring at my to-do list with that all too familiar tightness in my chest. Deadlines, personal commitments, and the persistent ping of notifications has had me feeling like I was drowning in responsibilities. I kind of was. Just like you.

We've all been there – that moment when everything feels simultaneously urgent and impossible. It was in this state that I stumbled upon what I now consider my most valuable daily practice.

I started setting a simple three-minute timer on my phone whenever that feeling of overwhelm hit. Just three minutes to close my eyes and focus only on my breathing. No solving problems, no planning next steps – just breathing. The first few times time felt awkward and almost wasteful. "I don't have time for this," my mind protested. But when the timer went off, I started to notice something surprising: the world hadn't fallen apart, and my nervous system had actually calmed down enough to think clearly.

What makes this tiny habit so powerful isn't the breathing technique (though that helps). It's the permission it gives you to temporarily step out of the rushing current of demands. In those three minutes, I'm acknowledging that my well-being matters as much as my productivity. I've learned that stress isn't just an uncomfortable feeling to push through – it's valuable information that I need to pause and process.

This week, I invite you to try your own three-minute reset when you feel that familiar tension rising. Don't worry about doing it perfectly or achieving some zen-like state. Just set the timer, breathe, and notice what happens.

Here’s where the magic happens - know that the power isn't in avoiding stress entirely but in changing your relationship with it – recognizing that the pause itself is not a luxury or a weakness, but the very thing that allows you to move forward with clarity.

What's the tiny habit that might change your relationship with something challenging in your life?

Ask yourself. Take a breather and ponder it for a minute or three.

With Love,

Sue

Some Resources And Links To Consider

And of course you know by now I’ve done extensive work with this so here’s a link to a short less than ten minute guided meditation video I put together because the benefits of mindfulness cannot be understated.

For more insights checkout this recent post from the Blossom Your Awesome Blog -

The Science Backed Power Of Meditation

or another self-improvement topic -

20 Powerful Ways To Communicate With A Drama Queen

Checkout some of my other writing below - and be sure to follow me on Substack where I post a heartfelt short essay each week.

Are You Ok?

Unfolding - Don’t feel like reading no worries - I’ve got you covered with a narrated version of this post

And for even more - Be sure to checkout - the Arts & Culture Magazine Suesblues.com - where I along with contributing writers talk - arts, culture, trends, hot topics, op-eds, essays, interviews and reviews.

Here’s the latest post from my sister site -

Magnified Reality: How Georgia O’Keeffe Taught Us To Truly See

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