Newsletter
Week 2: You're Still Here
11/13/25
11/13/25
HALF / LIFE
November '25
Today's email: ~750 words | 3 min read
Welcome to the Middle
November 20th. Day 20.
You're not new to this anymore. The excitement of starting is gone. But you're not close enough to the end to feel the finish line pulling you forward either.
You're just... in it.
This is the part nobody prepares you for. The middle stretch where there's no novelty, no adrenaline, no celebration. Just the same commitment you made 20 days ago that still demands your attention every single morning.
This is where most streaks die. Not dramatically. Quietly. One day you wake up and think "I've been doing this for three weeks, I can skip today." And then one day becomes two. And then you stop counting.
But here's what nobody tells you about the middle: this is the only part that actually matters.
Anyone can start. Anyone can finish when the end is in sight. But the people who show up on day 20, when there's nothing exciting about it, when it's just work, those are the ones who actually change.
So if you're here, reading this on day 20, still moving: you're building something most people never will.
The Day 20 Reality Check
Let's be honest about what day 20 feels like:
You're probably tired. Not "I need a rest day" tired. Tired of thinking about it. Tired of having to account for it. Tired of watching everyone else take the easy way while you keep showing up.
That's normal.
The commitment is starting to feel like work instead of adventure. The system you built is keeping you going, but it's not fun anymore. It's just what you do now.
And here's the hard truth: it's supposed to feel like this.
The middle is where you separate yourself from everyone who only moves when they feel like it. This is where you prove that movement isn't a feeling. It's a practice.
So what do you do when you hit day 20 and you're exhausted?
You don't quit. You adjust.
Lower the intensity. Cut the session short. Do the absolute minimum. But don't do zero. Because zero is where the system breaks. Zero is where you lose the momentum you've spent 20 days building.
One more day. That's all you need to think about. Just one more.
You're Not Alone in the Middle
We've been hearing from people deep in the grind right now. Day 18, day 19, day 20, all saying the same thing: it's not fun anymore, but they're still showing up.
That's the crew we're building.
If you're on day 20 and you're tired but you're still moving, let us know. Reply to this email or share your #ZERODAY30 story on Instagram. Tell us what's keeping you going. Tell us what almost made you quit.
The middle is lonely. But it doesn't have to be.
Holiday Gift Guide
The people who stay in the game through winter? They've got their gear dialed.
Here's what's in our rotation. Gear that works when it's cold, dark, and you'd rather stay inside. Perfect for the person in your life who refuses to hibernate. Or for yourself, because you've earned it.
What's Happening on the Channels
HALF / LIFE on YouTube
Popular on YouTube:
Best Ski Boots of 2026 - BOA Review Looking for the best ski boots of 2026? In this review, we test and compare the latest models featuring the revolutionary BOA Fit System - designed for precision, comfort, and performance on the mountain.
HALF / LIFE on Instagram
Follow @halflifet.5 to stay in the loop.
Tag us in your next session and we'll repost the stoke.
Why the Middle Matters
Day 20 isn't glamorous. There's no celebration. No one's going to congratulate you for showing up today the same way you showed up yesterday and the day before that.
But that's exactly why it matters.
You're not doing this for applause. You're doing this to prove to yourself that you can keep a promise when it stops being exciting. That you can build something that survives boredom, fatigue, and the temptation to quit when nobody would notice.
Ten more days. That's all that's left. You've already done the hard part. You've already survived the middle.
Now finish.
All the best,
-Tim
HALF / LIFE
Copyright (C) 2025 HALF-LIFE. All rights reserved.
HALF / LIFE
November '25
Today's email: ~750 words | 3 min read
Welcome to the Middle
November 20th. Day 20.
You're not new to this anymore. The excitement of starting is gone. But you're not close enough to the end to feel the finish line pulling you forward either.
You're just... in it.
This is the part nobody prepares you for. The middle stretch where there's no novelty, no adrenaline, no celebration. Just the same commitment you made 20 days ago that still demands your attention every single morning.
This is where most streaks die. Not dramatically. Quietly. One day you wake up and think "I've been doing this for three weeks, I can skip today." And then one day becomes two. And then you stop counting.
But here's what nobody tells you about the middle: this is the only part that actually matters.
Anyone can start. Anyone can finish when the end is in sight. But the people who show up on day 20, when there's nothing exciting about it, when it's just work, those are the ones who actually change.
So if you're here, reading this on day 20, still moving: you're building something most people never will.
The Day 20 Reality Check
Let's be honest about what day 20 feels like:
You're probably tired. Not "I need a rest day" tired. Tired of thinking about it. Tired of having to account for it. Tired of watching everyone else take the easy way while you keep showing up.
That's normal.
The commitment is starting to feel like work instead of adventure. The system you built is keeping you going, but it's not fun anymore. It's just what you do now.
And here's the hard truth: it's supposed to feel like this.
The middle is where you separate yourself from everyone who only moves when they feel like it. This is where you prove that movement isn't a feeling. It's a practice.
So what do you do when you hit day 20 and you're exhausted?
You don't quit. You adjust.
Lower the intensity. Cut the session short. Do the absolute minimum. But don't do zero. Because zero is where the system breaks. Zero is where you lose the momentum you've spent 20 days building.
One more day. That's all you need to think about. Just one more.
You're Not Alone in the Middle
We've been hearing from people deep in the grind right now. Day 18, day 19, day 20, all saying the same thing: it's not fun anymore, but they're still showing up.
That's the crew we're building.
If you're on day 20 and you're tired but you're still moving, let us know. Reply to this email or share your #ZERODAY30 story on Instagram. Tell us what's keeping you going. Tell us what almost made you quit.
The middle is lonely. But it doesn't have to be.
Holiday Gift Guide
The people who stay in the game through winter? They've got their gear dialed.
Here's what's in our rotation. Gear that works when it's cold, dark, and you'd rather stay inside. Perfect for the person in your life who refuses to hibernate. Or for yourself, because you've earned it.
What's Happening on the Channels
HALF / LIFE on YouTube
Popular on YouTube:
Best Ski Boots of 2026 - BOA Review Looking for the best ski boots of 2026? In this review, we test and compare the latest models featuring the revolutionary BOA Fit System - designed for precision, comfort, and performance on the mountain.
HALF / LIFE on Instagram
Follow @halflifet.5 to stay in the loop.
Tag us in your next session and we'll repost the stoke.
Why the Middle Matters
Day 20 isn't glamorous. There's no celebration. No one's going to congratulate you for showing up today the same way you showed up yesterday and the day before that.
But that's exactly why it matters.
You're not doing this for applause. You're doing this to prove to yourself that you can keep a promise when it stops being exciting. That you can build something that survives boredom, fatigue, and the temptation to quit when nobody would notice.
Ten more days. That's all that's left. You've already done the hard part. You've already survived the middle.
Now finish.
All the best,
-Tim
HALF / LIFE
Copyright (C) 2025 HALF-LIFE. All rights reserved.
