The other day, I stumbled upon a math fact that stopped me in my tracks: 1% of your 24-hour day is just 14 minutes and 24 seconds. The author’s point was that massive goals don’t require massive leaps; they just require moving the needle by 1% each day. 1%? That's it?

Immediately, my mind went to the women I work with who are trying to fill a cup that has a bunch of tiny leaks. When you are caught in chronic stress and people-pleasing, setting boundaries feels like an all-or-nothing mountain. We tell ourselves that to reclaim our peace, we have to deliver a flawless confrontation or overhaul our entire schedule. Because that feels terrifying, we default right back to keeping everyone else comfortable at our own expense.

You don't need a total life overhaul. You just need to stop giving away that single 1%. That's it!

The 1% Shift

When you're used to over-functioning to avoid friction, boundaries feel dangerous. It helps to separate what belongs to you:

3 Ways to Claim Your 14 Minutes Today

The 14-Second Delay: When asked for a favor, don't default to an automatic "yes." Pause and say: "Let me check my capacity and get back to you."

The Emotional Buffer: Take 14 uninterrupted minutes in your car before entering the house to decompress, instead of immediately shifting into accommodating everyone else.

The Clean "No": Decline an extra request without offering a long, over-explained apology.

You don’t have to manage everyone else’s comfort today. Just protect your 14 minutes.

What does your 14 minutes look like today?

Hit reply and let me know the 1% you're claiming this week. I love to read your responses!

"Sis, Stop Spiraling" If your brain has ever turned one small thought into a full-blown three-season Netflix series, this one is for you. In this edition of The Anxious Woman Playbook, we're talking about overthinking, anxiety, and what's happening in your nervous system when your mind just won't let something go. Through relatable examples and cultural idioms, you'll learn how to interrupt the cycle and create a little more peace in your day. I need this!

Are You Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired? Typical self-care often feels like just another chore on an endless to-do list. If this sounds like you, I want to invite you to complete a very brief, 3-question survey to help shape a new rest experience with zero demands, zero talking, and zero performance. Yes, this is me!

Your partner in wellness,

Erika T. Kendrick, LPC

​www.erikatkendrick.com​