Remember to Stop and Breathe
Take a Moment to Stop and just BE
Press PAUSE
There are times in life when we get so engrossed in our day-to-day responsibilities that we forget to stop and take a breath. It is usually not until we become completely tired and worn out that we realize we have been moving so fast that we forgot what it feels like to stop and just be. By that point, our bodies have begun to give us cues and signs that it is time to press the PAUSE button. We begin to feel overwhelmed, exhausted (even after what we thought was a good night’s sleep), irritated, or even physically unwell.
Once we reach this point, we often have no choice—we are, in some way, forced to “stop and breathe.” Let’s not wait until it comes to that. Instead, we can find ways to fit a five-minute meditation, a breathing exercise, reading a quick section of the book we are slowly working through, or just sitting in silence into our morning, afternoon (lunch break), bedtime, or any time of day.
I have experienced both the exhaustion that comes from doing too much without taking time to rest and the feeling of being relaxed, refreshed, or renewed from taking just five minutes to breathe. There have been days when I have made taking time for myself a priority over anything else once I get home from work because I now understand the positive impact of “taking 5.”
Put Yourself First
Putting myself first means making sure I exercise (usually walking) and stretch before starting housework, cooking, or cleaning. I also make it a point to “find my flow” through fluid movement and “create my own bliss” by incorporating 5–15 minutes of meditation or simply lying on my back in silence. One of my favorite practices after a Pilates and stretch session is lying flat on my back in “Star Pose,” with my legs outstretched and arms extended to the side. I close my eyes and just lie still, focusing on relaxing every muscle in my body and clearing my mind of clutter.
After about 5–10 minutes, I roll onto my stomach and push back into “Child’s Pose” for a few seconds before coming to my feet and rising to a standing position. Afterwards, my mind feels renewed, my body is relaxed, and I am ready to conquer the evening.
Taking time for yourself is incredibly important, though it can be challenging because it often feels time-consuming. If you are the type of person who needs to stay on task and gets stressed when you fall behind, you may need to “stop, breathe,” and press the PAUSE button for a little self-talk. Start by reminding yourself that it is okay to get off track sometimes.
Once you have freed your mind from the anxiety of falling behind, consider adding the time you want to spend exercising, stretching, or relaxing to your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. This ensures it actually gets done. Making it part of your schedule helps you stay on track while keeping your stress levels down from not following your routine.
The benefits are well worth it. I speak from experience: when I take moments for myself, regardless of what else I have to do, I find that I am more relaxed and at peace, which makes navigating the rest of the day-to-day activities far less stressful.
