Pausing Makes You A Better Leader!

Have you ever felt like the pace of life is too fast?

If so, you're not alone—this is a feeling that way too many leaders are experiencing these days, especially female leaders.

According to the findings of a new survey by HR software provider Ciphr, ‘Around 98 percent of the 265 leaders and senior managers polled found at least one aspect of their work stressful, while two-fifths (83 percent) are affected by three or more work-related stressors (the average, per person, is eight).’

That deserves a 'damn', wouldn't you say. Eight work-related stressors are impacting you and other leaders within your workplace.

But, what if we could slow down time and quiet the chaos going on within and around you?

Over the last 7-8 years, I have made it a daily practice to slow down, even stop what I was doing, even in the middle of a crazy busy work day, and simply be still.?

At that point, I didn’t have a choice. On two different occasions, I found myself moments aways from complete mental and emotional breakdowns due to work pressures, and I consider myself a pretty mentally tough woman.

It’s also why, I knew something had to give, so I asked myself, 'Is what I am doing and how I am going about it, all worth being exhausted, drained, and completely burnt out, unable to truly enjoy my life?’

Then, I asked myself,? ‘How can I stop it?'

It was ruling and ruining my life.

Have you ever reached that point??

I hope not, so before you do…

What if you could simply take a moment to pause and reflect on your current situation and ask yourself: "How am I feeling right now?" “What do I need right now?”

Being self-aware of how you are truly feeling and what you need to be the best you can be for everyone around you, including yourself, is a key success factor for anyone, especially today's leaders.

Often times, it’s as simple as taking a break.?

Pausing is one of the most effective and powerful ways to reset your mind and recharge your mind, body, and soul.??

When you take a break, whether for a few minutes or hours, you give your brain a chance to rest and recover, for you to get control over your breath and therefore heart rate, and for your mind to relax and open up white space for you to take in the things that bring you joy and happiness.?

Pausing helps to reduce stress levels, increase productivity, and improve overall well-being.

One of the main benefits of pausing is that it can help you gain perspective. You can see a path, decision, or conflict more clearly and objectively when you step back from a situation.?

Pausing is especially powerful in high-pressure situations where emotions can cloud your judgment, i.e. difficult conversations with an employee, a down-turn in business results, making challenging decisions, etc.

By taking a break, you can approach the situation with a fresh perspective, which can help you make better decisions.

In addition to gaining perspective, pausing grounds you more firmly in the here and now, the present.?

When you’re constantly on the go, it’s so easy to get caught up in the past or the future, allowing things that are already over or haven’t occurred yet, to rule your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Think about it. How much time and mental capacity do you waste replaying things that already happened, or stressing over what ‘may’ happen, even 5 minutes from now??

By taking a break, you can focus on the present moment and enjoy the little things in life. This absolutely reduces stress, improves your overall mood, and allows you to appreciate the crazy and sane times, the easy and hard, the small and big wins.

Finally, pausing makes you a powerhouse leader by improving your relationships with your team.?

When you take breaks, you show your team that you value their well-being and are not afraid to take time for yourself. This builds trust and respect, leading to better communication and collaboration.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed, take time to enjoy something that speaks to your soul, i.e. take a walk, play with you pup, turn on your favorite podcast, go out to lunch, call a loved one, write in a journal, or close your eyes and simply breathe.

Your mind, body, soul, and everyone around you will thank you for it.?

What challenges are you dealing with when it comes to pausing and caring for yourself?

BOOK A CALL with me, and let’s get you tips and strategies for being the powerhouse leader you’re meant to be. Go to www.coachmebernadette.com/discoverycall.

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