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We live in a world that celebrates speed. The faster you answer, the more efficient you seem. The quicker you move, the more productive people assume you are. I used to think that too. I’d jam-pack my days, chase every email, and jump on decisions just to keep things moving. But here’s what I’ve realized: most of the time, all that rushing didn’t lead to better results—it just led to more stress, more mistakes, and more burnout.

Then I started paying attention to when I felt the most clear-headed and calm. It wasn’t when I was chasing every update or trying to stay ahead of the next thing—it was when I took a moment to breathe, slow down, and actually pause before diving in. That’s when the fog lifted, and things started making sense.

Scoop

This idea of pausing isn’t just about slowing down for the sake of it. It’s about strategic patience—the practice of holding back, assessing, and then moving forward with intention. Pausing gives you space to process things from all angles, rather than making knee-jerk reactions.

Here’s how you can start incorporating pauses into your daily routine and decision-making:

1. The 5-Minute Rule: Before making any significant decision—whether it’s sending an important email, accepting a new project, or making a purchase—stop and wait for 5 minutes. This small delay gives you the chance to mentally step back and consider other perspectives or options that aren’t obvious in the heat of the moment. It’s a quick way to prevent knee-jerk reactions that might lead to regret.

2. Pause Before Saying “Yes”: We often say “yes” to things without thinking—more work, social commitments, or even notifications. Start practicing the habit of pausing before agreeing to anything new. Ask yourself: “Is this something I actually want or need to do?” Strategic patience isn’t about saying “no” to everything—it’s about making thoughtful, intentional decisions.

3. Set a Pausing Trigger: One practical way to integrate pauses is to associate them with specific activities. For example, each time you finish a task or reach for your phone, take a 2-minute pause to breathe and reset your mind. This simple act of pausing allows you to check in with yourself and approach the next task with more focus and clarity.

4. Create a “Pause” Hour: Build an hour into your week where you step away from all work and distractions (yes, including your phone). Use this time for pure reflection—thinking, journaling, or even walking in nature. It’s a designated time to regroup and regain perspective. Many high-performers swear by this routine to ensure they’re on the right path and not just running in circles.

As Peter Drucker said in The Effective Executive:

Think about that. So often, we get caught up in old habits and outdated ideas because we never take the time to pause and reflect on what’s actually serving us. Pausing gives you the clarity to identify what’s worth pursuing—and what’s just noise.

Information Overload? Hit Pause

This isn’t just about big life decisions either. We’re drowning in information, and if you don’t hit pause now and then, you’re bound to burn out. Here’s how to avoid that:

1. Batch Your News Consumption: Instead of constantly checking news updates or scrolling through social media, set specific times in your day to catch up on the information that’s truly important. Try 1440, which gives you a concise, once-a-day news update with all the essentials. This helps you stay informed without letting the news consume your whole day.

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2. Limit Your Sources: Pick one or two trusted sources and ignore the rest. We get overwhelmed not by the amount of news, but by the number of sources repeating the same thing. Simplifying where you get information from makes it easier to pause and digest what’s important.

3. Turn Off Non-Essential Notifications: Every ding, buzz, or pop-up notification is a distraction that pulls you out of focus. Try disabling notifications for non-urgent apps like social media, email, and random news alerts. You’ll immediately feel the benefits of a less chaotic mind.

Pausing doesn’t have to be some grand, time-consuming process. It can be as simple as taking five minutes in the morning to sit with your thoughts before jumping into the day. Or stepping away from your phone during lunch instead of doomscrolling. These micro-pauses give you the mental reset needed to make thoughtful, intentional choices.

Resources

If you’re curious about the power of patience in decision-making, check out Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. It dives into why taking time to explore different angles often leads to better results than rushing to specialize too soon.

Last Word

Remember, not knowing everything right now doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re giving yourself the space to figure it out properly. Pausing isn’t weakness—it’s strategy.

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