Hey there,
In high-stakes chess matches, grandmasters often step away from the board at crucial moments. They’re not avoiding decisions – they’re making them better. This practice, known as strategic pausing, is surprisingly powerful across all areas of life.
Most of us confuse taking a pause with procrastination. But there’s a key difference: procrastination is avoidance, while a strategic pause is a tool for clarity. When you deliberately step back from a situation, you give your brain the space it needs to process information more effectively.
Creating effective pause points is simpler than you might think:
- Before starting your workday, take 2 minutes to review your priorities
- After completing a major task, pause for 3-5 minutes before jumping into the next one
- When facing a difficult decision, set a specific time to step away and return with fresh eyes
These brief breaks aren’t just about rest – they’re about performance. Research shows that our brains make better connections and spot patterns more easily when we alternate between focused work and short pauses. A study at Harvard found that teams who took regular strategic breaks made 23% better decisions than those who worked straight through.
Here’s something you can try tomorrow:
Schedule three 5-minute pause points in your calendar. Treat them like important meetings – because they are. During each pause, step away from your work completely. No phone, no email, just a moment to reset and reflect.
Sometimes the best way forward is to pause.
