Melinda French Gates urges daily quiet time for personal well-being

Melinda French Gates recounts discovering the need for personal downtime while caring for her three children, noting that short, quiet intervals helped her regain composure. Her 2025 book The Next Day expands on those insights, offering guidance on handling transitions like her 2021 separation from Bill Gates. She urges people to put away their phones and spend ten minutes a day on practices such as meditation, jogging, or other wellness activities.

French Gates explains that this routine boosted her own well-being and enhanced her parenting. The work also references broader themes of mental health, work-life balance, and the importance of embracing discomfort during change. She concludes that intentional pauses can turn disruptive transitions into opportunities for growth.