Pause. Relax. Continue.

Earth is a beautiful planet, and we get to do absolutely nothing to make it work in the unrelenting way that it does. On and on it goes, round and round it turns, revolving and rotating while orbiting its blazing companion. We’re exhaustible people living in an inexhaustible world, yet we’re still under the impression that we can work as tirelessly and move as quickly as it does. With everything moving so rapidly, it’s becoming increasingly easy to get overly wrapped up in our immediate happenings. Before we know it, the past and future become illusions — they no longer exist. All that now exists comprises everything that is occurring in the present. It’s good to take time out to pause, relax, and appreciate all we have around us; sometimes we need to stop to remind ourselves of the big picture before we continue. When everything around us is in constant motion, finding the time to pause — even for a few seconds — becomes a herculean task. So, what happens when we don’t press the pause button? What happens is that we miss out on the amazing opportunity to clear our minds and improve our clarity of thought. Taking a break helps us make better decisions as well as take more appropriate actions. It creates an atmosphere to evaluate the things that we are doing, giving us a better sense of direction. There’s a general misconception that one has to pause for a long time for the results to be worthwhile. This isn’t the case. However long it takes you to recollect your thoughts is how long it should take. It’s more of a subjective thing. So don’t worry, you don't have to pause for so long that your mind begins to drift away, along with every sense of reality. Taking a break for some minutes — or even a few seconds — every day can greatly improve your quality of life, and it requires no energy whatsoever. All it requires is a conscious decision. At times we have so many thoughts we could literally swim in them. These moments call for us to relax our bodies and minds. Dedicating time to relaxing is one of the best choices you can make. It isn’t a structured or rigid approach to eliminating stress. It’s probably the easiest and most varied thing you could do. Relax = chill = calm down and unwind It’s basically doing anything that can make you become less tense or anxious. This can range from meditating, taking a walk, or simply being alone, to sipping green tea, squeezing a stress ball or even staring out a window. What do you usually do to relax? What activities make you less stressed? You can also choose to explore things you haven’t tried before. Sometimes, I relax by simply lying on my bed and reflecting on my day. At other times, I take a more intentional approach by meditating, which, I must say, is one of the most relaxing things to do. I like to think of meditation as stepping outside thoughts and viewing them from a third person’s point of view, like an outsider looking in. The aim isn’t to control or prevent thoughts, but to let them exist freely. If meditation isn’t your cup of tea, however, you can always try something more basic. “Relax and refuse to let worry and stress rule your life. There is always a solution to every problem. Things will work out when you take time to relax, refresh, restore and recharge your soul.” — Lailah Gifty Akita The inner calm that comes from taking time to pause and relax makes it possible to continue life with a greater sense of clarity and peace. With a freer mind, activities become more approachable, and days smoother. It’s time to slow down. The world is waiting for you and needs you at your best. Whenever you realise that you’re moving too fast, practice self-care by choosing to pause and relax your body and mind. It’s time to breathe. You’re doing it now — make it intentional.