Can you spare thirty minutes for me? I bet if I called you and asked you for thirty minutes of your time, you would give it to me.
What about sparing thirty minutes for you? If you wanted to do something, all for you, would you create thirty minutes to do it? Maybe, maybe not. We all have a long list of “things to do” don’t we? We couldn’t possibly spare ourselves thirty minutes, we wouldn’t get everything on that “to do” list done.
Yet I’ve been realizing just how much you can do with only thirty minutes a day. In late January I started to learn to play guitar. I have one thirty minute lesson per week, and I practice somewhere around thirty minutes almost every day.
Less than four months later, I have callouses on my fingers and I can actually play a song or two. They still aren’t perfect, and there’s no way I can sing and play at the same time, but the songs are recognizable. And I’m so excited. I can play the guitar, and I love it.
Five months ago I would have told you I have no time to learn to play the guitar. Are you crazy? On everything else I have to do? But I did. And it didn’t mess up any other commitments or items on the “to do” list. It didn’t stress me out in any way. Because I’m doing it with thirty minutes a day.
Turns out, I can easily spare thirty minutes. It’s starting to make me wonder what else I might be able to do, when I think of it this way.
How about you, is there something you want to do? Is there something you think will take a vast amount of time to learn? Maybe it’s learning to use Lightroom. Maybe it’s starting an exercise routine. Maybe it’s creating in an art form you love. I imagine there are many things on your wish list of items to learn and do.
Can you spare thirty minutes? Think about it seriously. I bet you can. And then, you can decide: What you will do with your thirty minutes a day?
Kat, this is so true, and something I need (and want) to keep in mind. Congratulations on following through on your desire to learn to play the guitar!
What do you think you might do with thirty minutes a day, Lee?
Yes, in the last few years I have been sparing myself those 30 minutes and I learned how to use my camera off automatic, and I learned how to use a saw to cut metal and make jewelry and I spend more time with nature and I’m learning about myself, things I wouldn’t have learned if I hadn’t. But now that summer is getting closer and my metals class is over til fall I have to remember to still use those 30 minutes for myself and hopefully my goal is to learn my photoshop elements 9 that I have had for a year now! A big huge high five on learning the guitar, that’s awesome!
Thanks for the reminder….Oh and Happy Mother’s Day Kat!!
Kim, you definitely know how to use your thirty minutes. You are an inspiration. Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Kat- I have played the guitar for years, and can sing at the same time (!), but with the recent acquisition of a different KIND of guitar, a resonator, I am learning- in what probably adds up to 30 minutes a day- how to play with a slide, on a guitar that’s tuned to an open chord. This changes all the rules, as while I am used to playing warm, melodic chords in regular turning, I am working through the pain of touching the slide to the strings and having it sound like someone just dropped an armful of china on a slate floor. I may ultimately have to spend more than 30 minutes, but I think the desire to learn something new is as important as the time you spend doing it.
Peter, I am envious of your ability to play and sing at the same time! You have a good point, the desire is as important as the time spent to learn something new.
Oh…I think you must be talking to me! As a retiree, I have plenty of time and am often looking for constructive things to do. I too recently bought a guitar; need to spend my thirty minutes a day on it. I also need to spend thirty minutes a day on the treadmill. I need to ‘get with it!’
Oh, lucky you Sue, to be retired and have more choices with your time! All of those thirty minute chunks of time… wow…
Congrats 🙂
I’m learning a number of crafts in my few minutes to myself.
Wow…that’s so awesome, Kat! My hubby bought me a guitar for my birthday several years ago and I’ve yet to learn even one song. You just might have inspired me, tho!
I would suggest taking lessons, Dina! It helps a lot to have someone help guide you through. The guitar is more complicated than I expected.
Good job I would need to spend 30 hours a day to learn the guitar. Lol. I am so not musically inclined. Yes I have tried. I am spending at least 30 min a day on exercise and running since I joined team in training. It feels good. I am slow but I am getting better
Slow and steady wins the race! Keep it up, you can do it.
Love the way you put together your guitar image….layers of images-love that. Glad to hear that you’re making progress with the new instrument. Have heard it is better to practice 1/2 hour every day, than cram in a 2-3 hour session in one day.
For me….I have all those little bitty chores that I don’t want to do. I realize I can bang out a bunch of clutter and put away things that need it in even less than 30 min. Thanks for the reminder.
Carnegie Hall…practice, practice, practice.
Congratulations! I tried back when I was 16, decided wasn’t for me-hurt my fingers too much. I prefer to ‘tickle the ivories’ but I haven’t touched the piano in years. My husband wants me to learn these few songs I kind of play-maybe this is my wake-up call to do just that. Thank you for sounding the alarm!
I love your image too.
That is wonderful! I’m happy for you! I’m going to keep this 30-minute strategy in mind when wanting to accomplish certain things… Thank you for this, Kat!