Pressing Pause in the Midst of Busyness

When you’re in the midst of a project or task, how often are you conscious of how you show up? And the impact that has on yourself and others?

Its easy to be so focused on a project that it becomes all consuming,  the end goal the main focus - even if sometimes its a nebulous goal.  Self care can easily dissolve.  This preoccupied focus can leave you unaware of how you show up, or the consequent impact on self and relationships.  Celebrations for steps along the way can be forgotten in the rush to uncover or complete next steps.

When left on a rinse repeat cycle, burnout, dissatisfaction and even a feeling of emptiness can unfold.

Sometimes for short term bursts you can get through this on a breeze. But in this current world, pressures of work, family, economy have seen these on a  rinse-repeat cycle rather than one off short bursts.

We’ve connecting with many people who’s first real awareness of this is burnout or illness, resulting in stress leave, a disconnection from work with big ripple effects for themselves, their families, colleagues and workplaces..

Pressing pause for a moment can help you take stock, preferably on a semi regular basis rather than burnout or illness ensuring you do.

Perhaps in your pause you could take time to consider how you’re showing up.  Are you there for you? How do others see you? A recent survey revealed many leaders rate themselves a lot more compassionately than their employees do.

As you know data can be helpful. Rather than judge yourself for whatever you discover, consider it helpful baseline information.

So how can you press pause when the pressure of everyday feels like it's impossible? Here are some ideas that have helped our clients:

• take a few slow deep in and out breaths - ideally taking longer on your exhale

• set a timer to have a break 5-10 minute break every hour. In writing our book, we do 2-25 minute chunks then pause and stretch or make a cuppa. It makes a huge difference to our focus, the quality of what we write and the state we're in at the end of each day

• Remind yourself, the sun always rises and this too will pass. Even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment.

• Ask yourself "how do I want to show up today?" If you're veering off course, gently remind yourself of this goal.

In our upcoming book we explore these old patterns, how they form and ways you can unplug from them without adding to your daily workload.

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