It’s been a long time since I’ve done something only for myself.

Today at 12:30, I’m doing something that isn’t for work or family. Something I’m choosing to do just because I want to.

Today at 12:30, I’m going to the barber.

I could easily do it at home. I’ve done it many times before. But there’s something about putting it in the calendar that feels different. Knowing it’s there, fixed, and it’s mine.

It’s simple, but it feels good.

Back in the day they called this common sense. Now they call it self-care. Either way, it feels good to have something that’s just yours.

I first shared this short story in my paid Cold Showers series a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those small reflections that somehow hit a nerve. One reader, Seb, wrote that it made him finally book time for himself for the first time in months.

That made me realize this is a bigger conversation.

We’ve learned that we have to earn rest.​
That we need to finish everything before we can pause. For many men, that conditioning runs deep: the need to do, to provide, to fix. It makes taking time for yourself feel selfish. But it isn’t. It’s maintenance.

Back in the day, it was just part of life. You took a break, sat with friends, had your moment. Now we need permission for it.

Taking time for yourself gives back to your family.​
When you take care of yourself, you remind everyone around you that rest and joy matter. You show your kids it’s okay to slow down. You show your partner you value balance.

That’s what I’ve come to see as real leadership at home.

When it’s in the calendar, there’s no guilt.​
In our house we have a weekly ritual called the Sunday Sync. Every Sunday we sit down and look at the week ahead. We make sure everyone knows what’s coming and what they need, including time alone. When it’s in the calendar, there’s no guilt. It’s part of the plan.

I made a short video about how to create this kind of space for yourself and your family without guilt. You can watch it here.

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Maybe this week you can try it too. Pick one small thing that’s just for you. A walk, a coffee, a few quiet minutes to breathe. Not because you’ve earned it, but because you’re human.

PS. If you want to grow your business without guilt and with more calm at home, reply ROOTED to this email and I’ll share more details.

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