Editor’s Note:

During the months of July and August, your weekly Pause blog postings will feature the ‘Best of Pause’. These are readers’ favorite messages from the earlier years of the Pause e-zine. Featuring these Pause Gems will give me a bit of a breather, and also introduce our newer subscribers to some of those early gems.

Whether you are a long time subscriber, or new to our list, I sincerely hope you enjoy these messages. Come September, your messages will once again feature all new info and resources.

Reflection & Action:  Take a close look at your to do list and a serious glance at the piles in the corner. How much of a backlog do you see?

If you are anything like the rest of us, you are anywhere from four to six weeks behind in your work. According to research reported by David Beardley, the average business person faces a backlog of 200 to 300 hours of uncompleted work.  That doesn’t even begin to consider what’s waiting for us at home or in the community.

How’s that for redefining normal? It’s little wonder you might feel overwhelmed and overloaded on any given day.

Stop giving yourself grief because you’re not all caught up. It isn’t going to happen! In fact, getting to the end of your list or reaching the bottom of your pile is more likely to be an abnormal, extraordinary, other-worldly experience. Look in the mirror and remind yourself, “You will never be done again!”

Then check today’s to do list and actions against the backlog to be sure you really are acting on what matters most. Credit yourself for the valued tasks you do tackle and complete.

Learn to see a sizeable backlog as just another normal fact of life. Don’t look at it as an Everest summit that must be conquered every day … or else!

Quote Of The Week:

“When I stop caring about the quality of what I’m doing and focus on just getting it done, I know it’s time to take a break and come back to the task when I can give it the attention it deserves.” – Teresa Herd

Resource Of The Week:

Print and post your own Press Pause / Press On Visual Reminders using these templates compliments of the Pauseworks community collection.

Pause Readers Write:

I am currently on spring break from teaching.  Before the break, I left a pile of work to do before the holiday was over, thinking that I would come in and catch up.  As it was time for me to leave for my break, my principal took my keys away. He told me to go and enjoy my break – that I had worked hard enough these last few weeks.  At first I was frustrated and worried about all the files that were due in the next few weeks. Now I am grateful. I already feel refreshed and know I will be a better teacher when I return.  A break is there for a reason! – Renee L.

As a psychologist, I often recommend that people need to slow down in their stressed out lives, but I realize that I do not practice what I preach.  The pressures from all of the demands in the world often make us feel as though we need to push on to get everything done in a day.  I have decided that the only person who is really going to take care of me is me, so I am working hard to incorporate brief pauses into my days such as having a coffee and really tasting it, or looking at a picture and really seeing it.  I have felt a difference already. – Tania B.