“Let’s get a date in the diary …” is a phrase that like many of you I say numerous times a week. Whether it is for a work meeting, coffee catch-up, or family event, these often do not happen without opening up my calendar, figuring out when there is a suitable gap in the schedule and booking the relevant event in. Managing our lives, in this manner, I would argue is incredibly effective, efficient and dare I say, also enjoyable.
Scheduling, as an intentional commitment is a habit I have developed over the years, and is a practice I
encourage, support and teach my clients to also adopt. It facilitates productivity when done well. My question though is whilst we plan and schedule for events, activities and appointments to what extent do we also plan and schedule pauses? On a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis what does a pause look like for you? Pausing, or resting regularly is vital. It is also something that I know many professionals struggle to prioritise. Taking a lunch break is one of the simplest ways to include a pause into your routine, but how many lunch breaks have you actually taken in the last fortnight? If you are great at taking your lunch break, that is fantastic, and I would encourage you to continue this practice.
A few weeks ago I spent three glorious days with my lovely parents in South Wales. Glorious because it was just the break we needed, the weather did as the weather does in giving us all the seasons in a 24-hour period, but it was still a brilliant mini break! Like most families, we each have a different definition of the word ‘relax’. So across the three days we went shopping, visited several beaches, played games, walked, saw historic sites, ate some great food and enjoyed ice cream in the car. It was a wonderful three days of conversation and creating memories and just the pause and rest from everyday life and activities we needed. We each run businesses and have ongoing projects we are responsible for, and after our mini break, we came back refreshed and raring to go.
Pauses are incredibly powerful. A pause from routine often provides time and opportunity to reflect, think, be, play, connect with important people and journal. Pauses are not necessarily void of activity, as a pause may allow you to work on passion projects, be creative, be inspired, catch up sleep, participate in different interests and also replenish, in a meaningful way.
An additional benefit that a pause can bring is that of a different perspective. Whether the pause is a stop, a rest, a break or a change this time can often invite you to think differently and consider particular aspects of your life through a fresh lens. In essence a perspective that may compel you to reflect on what is most important, and what truly matters. Possibly leading you to consider what you many need to stop
or start in order to live a life that more aligns with your values.
As with all of my blogs, I am intentional about weaving in encouragement, which is a personal life value of mine. As such I will end with this thought, that in order for you to do your best, most productive and meaningful work, rest can no longer be an option or something that you keep putting off. Instead it must become a necessity. As you start this new month and new quarter, this is a great opportunity to plan some pauses into your schedule.
Francesca McDowall, June 2024