What Happens When You Spend 12 Hours Alone? This One Day Can Transform Your Life

I just completed another 12-hour walk.

No, I didn’t walk nonstop for 12 hours… but I gave myself something that felt even more radical in today’s world: 12 hours of uninterrupted time. Just for me.

No errands. No texts. No to-do lists. No expectations.

Just space.

This whole idea comes from a book called The 12-Hour Walk by Colin O’Brady. Maybe you’ve heard of it—or maybe this is your first time learning about it. Either way, let me tell you… it’s such a simple practice, but it holds so much power.

The concept is this: you take one day—12 hours—to unplug from all distractions and reconnect with yourself. You don’t need to train. You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t even need to walk the whole time. You just need to commit to spending that time alone, moving, and noticing. With no phone, no social media, no music, and no one else around. Just you and your thoughts.

Sounds kind of wild, right?

And yet… maybe also kind of needed?

The Resistance Is the Invitation

Here’s the thing. When you first hear about this walk, a million thoughts come flooding in. The resistance shows up immediately. Colin actually talks about this in the book—and honestly, it’s what hooked me.

You hear about taking a whole day to yourself and your brain instantly says things like:

“I don’t have time for that.” “I don’t even know where I’d go.” “What if it’s boring?” “What if I get tired?” “Isn’t this kind of selfish?” “What if I get lost?” “This feels unnecessary.” “I can’t just leave for 12 hours…” “I don’t think I can do it.” “What if it’s uncomfortable?”

And the truth is… these thoughts? These are not unique to the walk. These are the same thoughts—the same limiting beliefs—that show up every time we’re about to do something new. Something that matters. Something that could change us.

They’re the very reasons we don’t start the project. Or write the book. Or ask for help. Or take the class. Or take the rest we need. Or say no to things that don't serve us.

Take a moment to reflect on that: What if the reasons we think we can’t take this time… are the very clues we need to explore deeper?

Coming Back to the Walk

I did my first 12-hour walk a while ago, and it stretched me in all the right (and uncomfortable) ways. But since then, I’ve started doing them more regularly—about once a season, or whenever I feel like I need a reset.

This time, I went to Patapsco State Park. It’s about an hour’s drive from home, and I’ve always loved how peaceful it feels there. It was a quiet day—windy, a bit chilly, but with that warm sun that feels like it’s wrapping you in a soft blanket. Birds were chirping like they were happy to see me, and the trail was mostly empty. It felt like I had the whole world to myself.

I had originally planned to complete a specific trail, but my body had other plans. I was slower than I expected, more contemplative, less focused on “getting somewhere.” So, I let go of the plan. I allowed myself to wander. To explore. To stop. To simply notice.

I walked. I journaled. I sat. I cried a little. I smiled a lot. I listened—to the woods, to the birds, to the wind, and to my own voice (outside and inside...).

What Pride Can Look Like

I want to talk for a moment about feeling proud.

It’s not always something I’ve been comfortable with. Like many people (especially moms, women, helpers, perfectionists… you get it), I’ve often found myself downplaying my accomplishments. Making myself smaller. Avoiding the spotlight. Saying, “It’s no big deal,” even when it is.

But this time, as I walked and later as I journaled, I felt proud. Not in a braggy, “look at me” way—but in a grounded. 'showed up for myself'' kind of way.

💗 I’m proud that I took this time without guilt. 

💗 That I blocked off the whole day and protected it like any other important appointment. 

💗 That I said no to other things that tried to sneak into the calendar. 

💗 That I didn’t wait until I was completely burnt out before taking a pause. 

💗 That I went, even though I felt nervous. 

💗 That I explained to my kids why this matters—because self-care isn’t a luxury or a last resort. It’s something we build into our lives on purpose.

I want my daughters to grow up seeing this modeled. I want them to know that taking time for yourself isn’t selfish—it’s wise. It’s responsible. It’s necessary.

And maybe, if they watch me do it enough times, they’ll remember to give themselves permission one day, too.

Being Alone with My Thoughts

Okay, I won’t lie—this part can be hard.

We don’t often give ourselves the space to just be with our thoughts. No distractions. No numbing. No multitasking.

But that’s the beauty of this walk.

When it’s just you and your thoughts, you start to see the patterns. You hear your inner voice more clearly. You become aware of what’s beneath the surface.

For me, that looked like questioning some recent choices. Letting go of control. Realizing how tightly I’ve been holding onto some fears. Noticing how much I crave rest but don’t always let myself have it. Catching some subtle self-judgment. And feeling waves of unexpected joy, gratitude, and creativity, too.

You don’t have to figure it all out. The goal isn’t to come home with a big breakthrough (though that can happen). It’s just about noticing. Getting honest. Being curious.

Letting yourself be.

The Trees Always Teach Me Something

One of my favorite moments during this walk was coming across a crooked tree as I was sitting near the stream.

It was leaning, parallel to the ground, its roots half-exposed on the unstable ground. By all logic, it should’ve fallen, allowing gravity do it's thing. But there it was—still standing. Still growing. Still reaching toward the light, the sun.

And it made me feel hopeful and I though about humans. Can can be like that, too. I saw myself in that tree, reaching to the source of light...

We all have crumbled places in our lives. Hard pasts. Shaky foundations. Moments that nearly broke us. But we still have the ability to grow. We can still stretch toward something beautiful. We can still heal, thrive, and become more of who we really are.

The wisdom of the trees is always available if we slow down enough to see it. I'm grateful for the opportunity to see it.

What About You?

I don’t share this to convince you that you have to do a 12-hour walk. (Although if you’re curious, I totally recommend reading the book!)

I share this because I want to remind you that time for yourself matters. That rest is not something you need to earn. That quiet is not empty—it’s full of truth.

So let me ask you…

🌀 What comes up for you when you think about taking 12 hours just for you?

🌀 What beliefs pop into your mind right away?

🌀 What might you find on the other side of your resistance?

🌀 What would change if you gave yourself the space to slow down, unplug, and listen?

It’s Not About Perfection. It’s About Permission.

This walk wasn’t perfect. I got a little lost. My feet hurt. I questioned myself a couple of times.

But it was beautiful. And it was mine.

There is so much power in choosing yourself. Not just once, but again and again.

You don’t have to wait until you’ve earned it. You don’t have to wait until everything’s calm. You don’t have to do it exactly like someone else.

You can just begin.

With a walk. With a pause. With a breath. With a quiet moment that says, “I’m here. And I matter.”

I’d Love to Hear From You

If this post sparked something for you, I’d love to know:

📝 Have you ever done a solo walk like this—or something similar? 

📝 What came up for you as you were reading this? 

📝 What’s one belief you’ve been holding that you’re ready to challenge?

Drop a comment below—I truly read every one and would be honored to hear your story.

Let’s remind each other that taking time to just be is not selfish—it’s sacred 💚