7 Simple Ways You Can Start to Pause
Hitting the ‘pause’ button in hard times can help you see things more clearly, but it can also feel risky and uncomfortable the first time you do it.
Here are a few tips to help you slow down and start practicing a leader-like ‘pause.’
7. Dare to be disconnected as you travel to and from work. No radio, no podcast, no extra conference call.
Time without inputs is an important characteristic of a pause. Limiting the number of inputs you’re processing at any given time gets you 1/3 of the way there!
6. Practice slowing down the speed of your thoughts to match the speed of your breath.
This slow down helps you observe your own energy and your thoughts. Breath awareness and breath work are also great for regulating your parasympathetic nervous system!
5. In meetings, complete one breath cycle (inhale and exhale) before answering a question.
This slow down creates space for you to notice your relationship with your people, and for others to get curious about what you have to say.
4. On a Zoom meeting or a phone call, listen to a few minutes of dialogue with your eyes closed.
This pause allows you to partially disengage and helps you tune into what is both said and unsaid. You never know what subtleties you’ll pick up on!
3. In any kind of meeting you host, allocate 3 minutes for everyone to pause.
Take a collective pause and ask everyone to observe how they are relating to a given problem or one another. Afterwards, exchange insights and see if there are any new requests for help.
2. Make an appointment with yourself to take a 15min walk outside.
This pause is reliable when all the other options feel hard or awkward to execute. Fresh air and the sounds of nature can greatly relieve cognitive overload!
1. Use these powerful questions at any time.
Whether you’re flying solo or with your people, these powerful questions tend to make anyone pause.
What have you been avoiding?
What are you holding too tightly?
Listen carefully to each answer with compassion and trust, and then make an agreement about when to re-engage.
