Sometimes All you have to do is Hit the Pause Button!
Shadrack Muthama Muendo
Community Builder| Copy Writer||Tech Savvy- Executive Assistant|Leadership and Social Impact enthusiast
Recently, I was deeply engrossed in a project, the kind that keeps your mind buzzing and frustration building up. I’d been working from home all day, and at some point, I hit a dead end. Foggy brain. painful back and nothing to show for my efforts.
No amount of coffee could shake off the feeling of being completely stuck.
For a moment, I thought, "Am I really this dense?"
Then I remembered something: sometimes, the best way to solve a problem is to step away from it. So, I decided to take a short walk, just a chance to clear my mind and reset.
Here’s the thing—this isn’t just me taking a "tired" breather. It’s an age-old technique used by some of the world’s top performers.
Take chess grandmasters, for example. When faced with high-stakes moves, they often step back from the board, allowing their minds to reset and see the situation with fresh eyes. This isn't hesitation; it's strategy. They know that a pause can offer new insights, allowing them to reassemble and approach their next move with greater clarity.
Even here in Kenya, during dowry negotiations (Ruracio), which can get quite intense, both sides sometimes need to step back and regroup. In the middle of tense moments, family elders will often call for a break to re-evaluate, cool down, and recalibrate their approach. This simple pause can mean the difference between a breakthrough and a deadlock.
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So, what can we learn from this? The strategic pause isn’t just a breather; it’s a reset button that helps us see the big picture. Stepping away for a moment isn’t procrastination—it’s about allowing yourself the mental clarity to make better decisions.
Since then, I’ve made it a habit to build these pauses into my day:
Sometimes, the best way forward is to take a step back. Give it a try—you might be surprised at how much clarity a simple pause can bring.
Will you try this simple yet powerful productivity hack?
Let me hear your voice in the comments section.
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4 个月Sometimes, the best way forward is to take a step back. Give it a try—you might be surprised at how much clarity a simple pause can bring. I love that, because that time nothing else matters, is you either step back or get sick. Thanks for sharing Timothy Mwangi
Data Analyst | Digital Skills Trainer | Freelance Writer & Tutor
4 个月What a great piece Shadrack Muthama Muendo ... Taking a step back is not back stepping but rather a strategic move forward.
Digital Marketing Professional || Coordinator || Virtual Assistant || Learner
4 个月Well written Shadrack Muthama Muendo Sometimes all you need is sometime away to destruct yourself (walk, exercise, meditation, dance etc) and come back to have a different perspective at a later time.
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4 个月Press break button,rest and restart again to maximize on your production
EXECUTIVE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
4 个月Oooh, yes! I agree with you. When we take a step back, we get to refresh, rethink, and reconsider; most of the time, we figure out how to handle the situation at hand. I have also taught myself to have that moment when things heat up!