Seventh Inning Stretch – Take a Break

Anne Lamott said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you”. Let’s take a moment to check in – did you take a break this summer? How intentional were you about unplugging?

Taking a break, learning to pause, reset, and change things up is not a comfortable place for many of us. However, it’s essential to remember that adopting a mindset that includes time for rest, especially as we begin the new school year, is beneficial for all of us.

We operate in a work-to-live society, where we spend the majority of our time hustling, hurrying, and always thinking about what’s to come. This causes the brain and body to live in a high beta frequency, which can lead to chronic stress and dysfunction. This stress and dysfunction can bring on habits that can lead to addiction, behavioral challenges, unhappy thoughts, and an unsatisfactory lifestyle. By taking a break, we can relieve this stress and find hope for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

To expand our mindset and create change to elevate our reality, the pause is where the magic happens. When we take time for ourselves during our days and throughout our weekends, we can build a pattern for healthy living. We identify opportunities for stress regulation and pinpoint the root causes of stress.

When we allow for a cognitive reset, we can alleviate mental fog and fatigue. It’s like running too many apps on a phone at once – you become less effective. The brain has networks that toggle between focused thinking (task-positive networks) and inward reflection (default mode network). The pause you create in your day will allow these areas of the brain to stay focused, follow through, and complete the task at hand.

Your brain is constantly processing information, solving problems, and regulating emotions. This is the area where you can tune in and take a closer look at your thoughts and feelings. Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? Taking a break (even a few minutes) allows your brain to downshift, reducing overload so it can return “refreshed” and better able to focus, remember, and make decisions. Breaks throughout the day give your default mode network space to align—your contribution to a calm mind, an open heart, and changing your environment. From thought alone, we have the capacity to align with your own regulation.

Give your brain the break it deserves to help consolidate learning, spark creativity, and connect ideas that might otherwise remain separate. Rest provides space for repair, healing, and restoration of clarity and balance. We do ourselves a disservice when we don’t take care of our most valuable asset: our energy. It gives life to everything. By prioritizing rest, you can reassure yourself that you are taking the necessary steps to maintain mental clarity and balance, ultimately enhancing your well-being.

A daily breath practice can infuse your body and mind with fresh oxygen, making you feel energized and more connected to yourself. Meditation practice can shift your mood, alter your chemistry, and set you on a path of creative expression. Mindful movement has the power to align your mind, body, and heart. It can quickly clear stuck energy, clearing blocks and supporting your experience in the present moment. A practice of all three—breathwork, meditation, and mindful movement—is the trifecta for optimal health and endurance.