“What could I do if I just knew it didn’t need to be perfect?” ✨ ~Lin Manuel Miranda
If all you have today is 10 wobbly minutes…let them be enough (#436)
Some people are building their dreams in big, beautiful blocks of time.
And then there’s the rest of us… building ours in the weird, wobbly in-between moments of regular life.
M is for Margins 📝✨
(and building something real in the spaces between)
The 12 minutes before your next meeting.
Scribbling that idea down while dinner’s in the microwave.
The walk around the block after a long caregiving day to help the brain fog and get some steps in.
That burst of energy on a Saturday morning where you can finally send that one email (it’s meee, hi 👋🏾)
It’s not glamorous. Or always Instagram-worthy. Sometimes it’s held together by vibes, caffeine, and hope.
But it counts.
It all counts.
And really - this is how most side hustles are built.
Not in giant content creation days.
(Though sometimes you can take a PTO day and batch a bunch of blog posts.)
Not in focused eight-hour blocks
(Those are reserved for the day job.)
Not in perfectly planned systems
(Life happens and we roll with it.)
But in tiny touches:
A sentence written.
A link saved.
A draft reopened.
A thought captured before it slips away.
A 5-minute win that your future self will be so grateful for.
Most productivity advice makes it sound like you need more time, and a lot of it, to make progress.
But if you’re someone juggling all the things?
It’s all about the margins.
Good things don’t only grow in perfect conditions. They grow in real, messy, human ones, too.
Got 5 minutes?
Respond to one email.
Save three content ideas in your Apple Notes
Got 15 minutes?
Record a voice note with thoughts for your next newsletter
Research one thing you’ve been curious about
Batch a few quick admin tasks
Got 30 minutes?
Write a messy first draft
Or edit the draft you wrote last week
Plan content for next week
Work on that project you keep meaning to get to
—
So, if all you have today is 10 wobbly minutes?
Great! Use them.
Let them be enough.
You might have more time tomorrow. Or you might not.
Either way - it all counts.
Tiny moments add up.
—
💬 Over to you: What’s one margin you can use this week? Even if it’s just 5 minutes?
On to the picks!
P.S. Sometimes I do get those blessed chunks of uninterrupted time. But I can’t count on them. So I’ve learned to build in the spaces between. And that’s made everything more sustainable.
Note: This email may contain affiliate links. If you click through my link and make a purchase, I may receive “thank you money” at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love.
#picks 😍
small pockets, big impact
⏳. How to change your life in an hour a day. Some folks, like Derek, carve out a quiet hour before work. Others grab 10 minutes during lunch. Some only have space on Saturday mornings. I love examples like this because they remind us there’s no one “right” way. Just pockets of time that match your life, your capacity, and your season. Baby steps really do add up.
📺. All Her Fault (Peacock). If you need an “I cannot think about real life for the next hour” kind of escape, please watch this series. It’s SO GOOD. A mom goes to pick up her kid from a playdate…only to find out there was no playdate and her son is missing. 🤯 The rest is pure twisty-turny goodness.
📘. A Gentle Year-End Reset. If you’re easing into reflection mode as the year wraps up, here are a few soft, low-pressure options:
Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026: a journal created by Selina Barker that I’ve used for years to recap what I’ve learned and choose a word/theme for what’s next.
My friend Ruth just created 365 Days Journal: one tiny prompt a day that makes journaling feel light, doable, and surprisingly grounding.
And if your brain wants fun instead of reflection: an adult activity book with crossword puzzles, word searches, mazes, and matching games.
#icymi
😍. Last issue’s top pick: That’s Not Garbage! Power Hour!
💌. Pocket Pep Talk. Feeling stuck? I’ll send you clarity (and a little pep) in 24 hours.
#classifieds 🗞
☕️. Coffee so fresh it’s basically flirting with you. Small batch, specialty-grade, and shipped to your door. Perfect for multitaskers chasing goals (and a little ease).
🎨 What if your art was your protest? The Art of Resistance podcast uncovers how creatives turned music, writing, & design into power. A reminder: you can build in your own way.
9️⃣. What if your next experiment was just $9 away? This bite-sized training shows you how to turn a simple idea into a paid offer. Fast. Fun. Low-pressure.
(like these? let’s partner up!)
#lifevibes
#supporters ☕️
Thank you, Kelly, Melinda, Tawanna, Gia, Lori, Ayana, Krista, Jessica, Annetta, Constance, Tunde, Jen, Michelle, Emile, Bex, Kim, Angela G., Lauren B., Chelsea, Amy, Ricky, Kirsten, Vin, Julie, Nicole, Hmza, Greg, Kristin, Kirstyn, Jess, Cheryl, Krysta, Adrena, Vidya, Kristyn, Danielle, Keyn, Terry, Vanessa, Meredith, Lauren, Meg, Maria J., Chivon, Kim, Luciano, Colie, Chasity, Laurie, Latienda, Collette, Anne, Kristen, Liz, Katherine, Monale, Betsy, Melissa, Lindsay, Jennifer, Kayla, Madison, Rae, Stephanie, Christine R., Christine M., Frances, Hannah, Chris, Brandy, Mea, Kristian, Maria K., Avery, Adam, Barbara, Shenee, Desiree, Lisa, Kandice, L’Oreal, and LaVerne for being #jesspicks supporters!! ❤️
Oh wow i love this! I saw your post because of your lovely mention of the journal (🥰 thank you), but then I read the post and THIS IS SO GOOD! Yes - going after our dreams and bringing about the change we want in the margins - the wobbly minutes. Oh this is brilliant x