With One Half Hour

 

In July, I made a personal goal to read for a half hour every single day. It sounded silly to me when I wrote it down. Seriously? A measly half hour a day – and I had to write it down as a goal?

            But I did have to write it down as a goal, because in previous months, if I tried to make a goal of reading every day, I found myself often reading a single page, clapping the book shut, and happily drawing an orange checkmark in my beloved day planner list. I’d met the goal. I had read. But really, Bekah? Really?

            A half hour seemed a measly goal, but I reasoned it was better than a page at a time, so I set the goal.

            Then I met the goal.

            And at the end of the month, I had read eight books. EIGHT! I don’t even remember the last time I read eight books in a single month!

            This month, I decided to apply that half hour to writing instead. I wanted to say I would have enough time in my day to read for a half hour and write for a half hour, but I didn’t know if it would be possible each day. So I purposed to read as often as possible and write for a half hour a day.

            And I have. I’ve written at least a half hour every day, and sometimes I find that it flies so quickly that I end up writing for closer to an hour. I’ve written a little over 80 pages so far, and the month isn’t even half done. I had forgotten just how very much I adore writing!

            And as a side goal, I made a note to work out at least 15 minutes every day (except Sundays) this month. But then I found workout videos that are closer to a half hour, so it turns out that I’m working out a half hour each day too.

            There aren’t enough half hours in each day for me to read…and write…and work out…and do extensive Bible study…each of the days.

            But what I am learning is that there is great productive power to be found in a mere half hour a day. I may not be able to stack all the activities each month for life, but if I make a goal to do something for just a half hour, it turns out I can accomplish a lot.

            Maybe you could think about it for next month! What could you do with a half hour?