What If You Stopped Before You Had To?

Slowing down can be so difficult.

Our plates are full. There is always something else we could be doing. We've learned to believe that rest is lazy or that we should relax when everything is done.

And when we actually do stop, we may even feel guilty about it.

So what do we do?

Maybe we start by changing what we think a break has to look like.

A break doesn't have to be a big thing.

Sometimes when we think about taking a break, we imagine having to stop everything.

An hour-long nap.

An entire afternoon with nothing planned.

A day off.

And while those things can be wonderful, they aren't always realistic.

Taking a break can be much simpler.

Not an hour. Not a whole afternoon. Just 10 minutes.

Sit outside.

Take a walk.

Make a cup of tea.

Look out the window.

Listen to some music.

Do something that isn't productive.

The goal isn't to completely stop your life.

It's to create small moments where you aren't accomplishing, fixing, helping, responding, or checking something off your list.

What if you stopped before you needed to?

We often wait until we're exhausted before we give ourselves permission to stop.

But what if you took a break while you still had energy?

What if you stopped before you were overwhelmed?

What if you stepped away simply because you noticed you needed a few minutes?

At first, that might feel uncomfortable.

You may hear that familiar voice:

I should keep going.

I don't have time for this.

I could get so much done right now.

That's okay.

You don't have to get rid of those thoughts.

You can simply notice them and take your break anyway.

Because the goal isn't to become someone who never wants to be productive.

It's to become someone who knows when to stop.

Give yourself permission to pause.

You don't have to wait until you've earned a break.

You don't have to finish everything first.

And you don't have to be completely exhausted before you're allowed to rest.

There will almost always be something else you could be doing.

So this week, try something different.

Stop before you have to.

Give yourself 10 minutes.

Let something wait.

And see what happens when you allow yourself to take a break simply because you want—or need—one.

Maybe slowing down doesn't have to be as difficult as we thought.