The One-Minute Mantra That Gets Me Through Everything
How “You can do anything for 1 minute” became my go-to tool for movement, motherhood, and mental health
Somewhere between the final set of dumbbell squats and the 3 a.m. feeding, I whisper it to myself:
You can do anything for 1 minute.
It’s become a quiet mantra in my life—a phrase that shows up when my body is shaking in a Pilates hold, when I’m overwhelmed at work, or when I’m rocking my baby back to sleep for the fourth time in one night.
And the wildest part? It actually works.
This tiny piece of self-talk has helped me push through discomfort, reset in moments of chaos, and stay grounded when everything feels like too much.
Where This Mantra Shows Up in My Life
💪 In Workouts
When my muscles burn and I want to drop the weights or collapse out of a plank—especially when my Pilates instructor is clearly trying to kill me with a 15-minute core series—I remind myself: Just one more minute. That’s all I need to stay present and push through.
🤰 During Labor
With each contraction, I focused only on that moment. I didn’t need to survive the whole labor—just the next 60 seconds. It gave me a sense of control in a situation that felt completely out of my hands.
👶 In Motherhood
Crying fits. Nap battles. Overstimulation. I can’t always fix the moment, but I can breathe through it for 60 seconds. And honestly? Sometimes that’s all it takes to shift the energy—for both of us.
🧠 In Everyday Stress
Tough meetings. Endless to-do lists. Unexpected overwhelm. Taking just one intentional minute helps me respond instead of react.
Why It Works (And It’s Not Just Fluff)
This mantra isn’t just a feel-good phrase—it’s a real grounding tool rooted in mental health strategies.
✅ It brings you into the present
You don’t have to solve the whole day. You just have to get through this minute.
✅ It breaks the “I can’t” loop
Instead of shutting down, you open up a tiny window of possibility. Just one more breath. Just one more moment.
✅ It builds nervous system resilience
Holding steady during short bursts of stress (physical or emotional) trains your brain: I can do hard things… and still be okay.
1-Minute Resets You Can Try Today
New to this mindset? Start with one of these simple, powerful shifts:
🧘♀️ Box breathing: Inhale 4 – Hold 4 – Exhale 4 – Hold 4
🌞 Step outside: Feel the sun or fresh air on your skin
🧍 Do a 60-second stretch or plank
🧠 Repeat a grounding mantra: “I’m doing enough. I am enough.”
🎧 Put on your favorite feel-good song
💧 Drink a full glass of water like it’s a reset button
Final Thoughts
This mantra has carried me through some of the most intense moments of my life—not because it magically made things easier, but because it reminded me that I could keep going.
One minute at a time. One breath at a time.
You can do anything for 1 minute.
And sometimes, that’s all you need.