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.
