‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

Melinda French Gates first realized the importance of self-care in early motherhood.

In between carpools, when her three kids were napping, and early in the morning, she recognized that she needed time to herself—to allow herself to breathe.

French Gates stressed the importance of self-care in her second book The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward .

Published in 2025, it explores the philanthropist’s life lessons after her 60th birthday, takeaways from her divorce to Bill Gates , and advice on difficult transitions.

“I want to tell everyone to take time in quiet,” she told Forbes last year.

French Gates offered one key piece of advice: to put down your phone and take 10 minutes a day to practice self-care, whether that be meditation, jogging or other avenues for wellness.

She recalled being reluctant to practice wellness during her motherhood years, especially when her kids were young and needed her attention often.

However, eventually she realized that dedicating time to her own self-care could improve not only her well being, but it also helped her be a better mother.

French Gates shares three children with Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates .

Her youngest daughter, Phoebe Gates , founded the trending AI shopping app Phia last year.

Bill and Melinda got divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage.

In The Next Day , French Gates called the separation one of her life’s most difficult transitions.

And when major transitions occur, French Gates emphasized the importance of taking time for self-care.

“Don’t just leave and then jump to the next thing,” she said.