I've scheduled a retreat for tomorrow. Over the years I've been better at allowing myself a pause. Sometimes better than others. Being kind to ourselves is important especially if I am going to love my neighbor as myself! Glad you took a pause
I try to take a pause every morning, by usually a meditation routine, which allows me to slow my breathing down if I am feeling anxious. And the meditation routine is very calming. I did notice later in the day because I have started a painting, my anxiety comes up. It seems to be a performance anxiety. Once I start painting I am fine. So when the performance anxiety came up this time I told myself, "Laura, this happens every time when you start painting, just know you calm yourself down when you are mixing colors, and you will work through it. Even if you don't like how a shape or color is looking you can change it." Then I calm down and just start painting.
I don’t have a consistent schedule yet, so I write at various times in the afternoon or evening. I often write for hours at a time, which is why I need to be better about taking breaks!
Thanks for sharing your answers to my questions, Livio. I definitely need to take more breaks when I write to get up and move around. I'm familiar with the Pomodoro technique, just need to actually use it :)
This was beautiful. Loved your comparisons, they were so accurate.
As you might have found from my article already, I pause when I'm in nature. Preferably just sitting somewhere peaceful listening to the sounds around me and watching birds or other wildlife. That calms me the most and recharges my batteries.
Thanks, Anne. And I agree with you about the calming power of nature. I wrote another post about that kind of pause, called “A Walk in the Woods Works Wonders.” I regularly walk in a local park that attracts great blue herons and many other animals. I always stop in my tracks when I see them and enjoy watching and photographing them (along with sunsets, flowers, and other beautiful scenery).
I've scheduled a retreat for tomorrow. Over the years I've been better at allowing myself a pause. Sometimes better than others. Being kind to ourselves is important especially if I am going to love my neighbor as myself! Glad you took a pause
Thanks, Darlene. I’m glad I took that pause and hope your retreat provides a pause that refreshes and renews you.
I try to take a pause every morning, by usually a meditation routine, which allows me to slow my breathing down if I am feeling anxious. And the meditation routine is very calming. I did notice later in the day because I have started a painting, my anxiety comes up. It seems to be a performance anxiety. Once I start painting I am fine. So when the performance anxiety came up this time I told myself, "Laura, this happens every time when you start painting, just know you calm yourself down when you are mixing colors, and you will work through it. Even if you don't like how a shape or color is looking you can change it." Then I calm down and just start painting.
That sounds like a wonderful morning routine, Laura!
I hadn’t thought of it as a pause, since it’s the first thing I do each morning, but I write in my journal while listening to calming music.
It’s also great that you were able to identify the reason for your anxiety when preparing to paint and reassure yourself with kind words.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Now I am trying a new routine.
To get done with my core tasks by 11am.
One of the is writing.
I write for 1 hour, in two cycles: 25 min writing, 5 min break, 25 min writing, 5 min break.
During the break I walk around my flat, with a cup of tea in my hand.
Sounds like a good routine if you're a morning person, which I am not!
In which moment of the day do you write?
I don’t have a consistent schedule yet, so I write at various times in the afternoon or evening. I often write for hours at a time, which is why I need to be better about taking breaks!
How do my mind, body, and spirit let me know I need to pause or restart?
My body starts to become rigid.
When I get those signals, how do I respond?
Now I am increasingly aware. Sometimes I ignore them. Sometimes I do not ;)
What kind of pause or restart do I need (sleep, nature walk, vacation, new job, etc)?
Walk around the flat, with a cup of tea in my hands.
How can I make that pause or restart happen?
Trying the well know "Pomodoro technique". 25 min of work, 5 of break. Does not work for every taks, but it is doing well for writing.
Thanks for sharing your answers to my questions, Livio. I definitely need to take more breaks when I write to get up and move around. I'm familiar with the Pomodoro technique, just need to actually use it :)
Yeah. I have always been skeptical. But I must admit that works well with writing (and reminds me to take breaks).
Might work less well with other tasks that require more time to get into focus mode.
This was beautiful. Loved your comparisons, they were so accurate.
As you might have found from my article already, I pause when I'm in nature. Preferably just sitting somewhere peaceful listening to the sounds around me and watching birds or other wildlife. That calms me the most and recharges my batteries.
Thanks, Anne. And I agree with you about the calming power of nature. I wrote another post about that kind of pause, called “A Walk in the Woods Works Wonders.” I regularly walk in a local park that attracts great blue herons and many other animals. I always stop in my tracks when I see them and enjoy watching and photographing them (along with sunsets, flowers, and other beautiful scenery).