The art of taking a pause

it’s hard not to feel like we’re wasting valuable precious time right now, but it’s out of our control and for a lot of us, we are just lucky to be healthy at home. I’d like to believe I can survive this time okay because I’ve devoted myself to creating beauty every day, even if the days are ordinary or without a lot to do. maybe after this we will all see the value of making every day artful, special, celebratory for any or no reason, and find the absolute best moments in the ordinary. the small victories, the pauses, daily rituals, the moments in between where life is lived and real emotions are felt, are all that matter. especially now. so have that second espresso and observe the world out your window, or open that bottle that’s been sitting in the cellar and light some candles with dinner as if it’s a special night, because it is.

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Life in Italy is slower than America, and since I’ve been back in the states since Christmas I feel as though I’ve been quickly swept up into the senseless business that is living here. It’s not even a change of pace, I’ve noticed, but rather a lack of moments that allow ourselves to slow down. Traditions and daily practices that are essential parts of life in Italy but that are truly non-existent here have me feeling like I’m running a race and can’t catch my breath. 

One night a couple months ago as I was going to bed I realized I hadn’t stopped to just pause for the whole day…sure I had been relaxing on the couch but my mind was always racing, my phone buzzing, and my laptop open to my email and blog. I took that moment before crawling into bed to just sit and think for myself. Figure out what the date was (sometime in February), take a few deep breaths, and think about the bigger picture for a minute. 

I wrote all of the above before COVID-19 became the global pandemic that it is and half of humanity has been told to put their lives on pause. I didn’t wish for such a terrible reason to have to come to a halt, but now I think it’s forcing everyone to reevaluate, in multiple ways. Before this forced time at home I had been reflecting on the daily rituals in Italy that allowed me to catch my breath. Simple things like sipping my espresso while standing at the bar, riding the bus and watching the city pass by, or even sitting on a bench somewhere and just thinking or writing in my journal. All of these practices helped me to feel more calm. They forced me to be in the present at least a few times a day, and I can’t even explain what good that does for my overall mental health. 

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Now I’m committing to doing that more often. I want to bring more intention into how I spend my days, especially as it starts to feel like spring here, always a ripe time for new beginnings and to celebrate life in the form of flowers and buds on trees. I want to be mindful each day, which I think will lead to more productivity in the long run because it will mean focusing only on things I find important or that move me. 

My advice is to create these pauses in your day. It can be a simple thing, like writing in a journal before bed or doing a short yoga sequence before you start working. Any activity where your mind has space to think and you can process whatever you need to that day. I promise you that once you incorporate this time into your daily life, you will be much happier and maybe even less stressed.

Ideas for your pause…

• tea or coffee in the morning with a book
• a mindful commute (listen to a podcast or read) of course once it’s safe to go back to work
• quiet snack time without your phone
• yoga flow sequence before or after work
• notice your breath, take five deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth
• write in a journal before bed
• have a dance party in the shower
• take a long bath or shower
• make a list for the week every Sunday night
• stop and notice your surroundings, look out your window
• meet a friend for a drink (again, when it’s safe) and keep your phone on silent in your purse
• write your friend a letter
• sit down to lunch or dinner with your family and actually talk
• make fresh juice and sip it slowly
• draw something, whatever comes to your mind
• pray or meditate, and make it a daily ritual in the morning or before bed
• have a picnic in a park (my favorite include wine and a good cheese)
• go to a garden

Other ideas? Add them in the comments below.