A Minute to Think

Name: A Minute to Think
Author: Teagan P.

Juliet Funt

9 ideas

18.4K reads

Books

Mindfulness

Communication

103

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We need permission to pause – and to do so during business hours, not on our own time like a public school teacher going broke to buy their own clay and markers.

The Value of Pausing

Taking just 60 seconds to pause thoughtfully amidst the rush of daily tasks and stimuli does wonders for mindfulness, presence, and considered rather than knee-jerk reactions.

Building small pauses into your routine allows mental space and perspective that improves decision-making, relationships, stress levels, and overall well-being.

Even a minute of consciously disengaging is restorative.

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The Dark Side of Positive Motivators

Drive, excellence, information, and activity are positive motivators but can become counterproductive when taken to unhealthy extremes, acting as "time thieves".

An overdrive mentality pushes you past capacity.
Perfectionism spends unnecessary time optimizing minutiae.
Information overload tries consuming more data than one can process.
An overactive frenzy mistakes busyness for productivity.

These impulses come from admirable human tendencies but require awareness and balance to avoid dysfunction.

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Noticing Your Thoughts

Using micro-pauses to notice your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations fosters emotional and self-awareness that often goes unexamined in our busy lives.

Without judging or trying to change them, objectively observing your inner state builds EQ. It's only when you pause and pay attention that you gain insight.

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Getting Unstuck

When faced with uncertainty, problems, or negative thought spirals, pausing briefly stops counterproductive thinking patterns.

Creating even a tiny mental break disrupts rumination and worry to gain fresh eyes.

You can get unstuck and see new solutions.

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Connecting with Others: Stop Your Inner Noise and Listen

Pausing thoughtfully before responding in conversations helps us move from reactive listening to deep listening.
We truly hear others, understand different perspectives, and communicate more positively.
Pausing builds empathy and strengthens personal and professional relationships.

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Reducing Stress

Taking pauses throughout the day helps dissipate stress because it short-circuits the brain's threat and "fight or flight" response from the reactive amygdala.

Pausing allows the logical, thoughtful prefrontal cortex to regain control.

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Boosting Creativity

Silencing your inner noise and external distractions even briefly creates mental space for original ideas and insights to emerge.
Pausing lets the brain make new and original connections leading to creativity.

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Being Present

Micro-pauses bring greater awareness to the present moment rather than getting lost ruminating about the past or anticipating the future.

Mindful presence fosters gratitude, contentment, and living in the now.

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IDEAS CURATED BY

Teagan P.

@tea_epp

"The more you understand yourself, the more silence there is, the healthier you are." - Maxime Lagacé

CURATOR'S NOTE

The author makes the case that superior results – and better mental health – come from taking time to reflect and recuperate. She draws on psychology research and cites the experiences of professionals and teams in a variety of industries. Anyone who suffers from overwhelm – and is open to the notion that being busy and being productive aren’t necessarily the same thing – can benefit from this book.

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