Pause for Success

Some days, we can only race from one task to the next. You wake up and hit the ground running, triaging everything that needs your attention. The idea of working ahead is tossed out the window when emails arise, or the kids forgot to tell you what they needed yesterday. Rinse and repeat. When this becomes the norm, stress levels rise, and you only want a break. You want things to stop long enough so you can breathe.

What if you can turn the energy in your life from a frantic pace to something more enjoyable, even if your schedule remains just as full? You can.

Deliberate Pauses Can Keep Stress at Bay

A friend told me about a nurse who helped her father in his last months in the hospital. Before entering her father’s room, the nurse would stop, close her eyes, and stand there for about 30 seconds. Then, she would open her eyes, take a deep breath, and head in to help her father. This friend asked the nurse about this after she saw it happen every time she entered a room.

She said she was giving herself time to let go of what she was doing with the last patient so she could be fully present for the next patient. At the door to each room, she would stop, close her eyes, and take deep, cleansing breaths, bringing herself back to the moment, and letting go of what was. She didn’t want to bring the energy of the last patient into the next room. She cleaned the slate to keep herself fresh and do the best work possible.

This is known as The Sacred Pause. This means giving yourself a moment of stillness to let go of the old to make room for the new. Finding this pause allows you to be more fully present in the current moment.

Everyone carries energy from one interaction to the next, whether you’re a nurse, teacher, businessperson, or parent. We stay in the last moments in our heads, processing what happened. While this is normal it does not allow us to be fully present in our lives.

Recognize You Need a Reboot

This practice (or habit) of checking in with yourself during transitions can shift your entire day. Emotional regulation lets you figure out what you need from one circumstance to the next. It’s like a mini reboot of your system. The most difficult and important part is realizing you have control over your own energy. When you understand this, you shift from being the victim of your life to taking charge.

Recent scientific research has shown that we can manage our mind and body using proven techniques of controlled breath work. Ancient cultures have used these practices for thousands of years. Uniting that primal wisdom with modern modalities gives us achievable access to a balanced & empowered life.

Creating a Habit

Rather than racing to fit in one more text message, task, or errand, find space to pause, to let go enough so you can enter the next moment how you deliberately choose.

Finding something to signal the habit you want to create is a good way to start. The nurse used the doorway. You choose something significant to you. Think about what energy you’re bringing. Put aside chores and work to fully greet your spouse, children, or friends. Practice giving yourself 20-30 seconds to tune in to how you feel, and let go of the rest.

Help with Emotional Regulation

If you want help letting go of stressful energy, call me. At Breathe & Balance, I work with people to pay attention in the moment and create sustainable lifestyle choices. I offer tools so you learn to be more present in your life and bring the energy you want to the table.

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