I’m raising children so the idea of a “time out” is not foreign to me. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a punishment, more of a pause when over-tired minds start to venture to the dark side of child behavior. The more I get into the idea of The Pledge, the more I realize, I need time outs for myself. I get grumpy, frustrated and sassy just like kids. Little breaks in the middle of my day keep me focused, positive and mentally strong.
It doesn’t take much time. Two minutes is all you need to reset your mind. Two minutes? I can handle two minutes. I love how Zen Habits breaks down the process. HOW TO MEDITATE
Another simple time out method is to walk around the block. Sometimes a five minute walk helps prevent reactions that instigate a messy situation. This is effective at work and in marriage and it’s such a simple tool. LEARN HOW TO THINK BEFORE SPEAKING
I just learned of a program that brings yoga into prisons to teach inmates how to react better to situations. It’s interesting to see how the idea of mental time outs can evoke changes on that scale. PRISON YOGA PROJECT
My pledge is to honor my need for a time out when I feel myself getting impatient.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION BADGE
What’s your favorite way to take a break?
