A fellow mindfulness teacher told me she tries to incorporate pausing into her day. She stops for a few mindful breaths, creating a pause in every hour on the hour.  At work yesterday I remembered this and as I felt stress and tension rising in me, I felt compelled to give it a go.

It was 10.15 when I first paused and I continued it throughout the day. What unfolded was an extremely mindful day. I have been doing daily meditations for some time now but it often feels compartmentalised. I also do the three minute breathing space several times a day but this shorter pausing is perhaps the missing link between the formal and the informal. Bridging the gap between sitting quietly in your room and the real world.

I haven’t paused as much today but next time I feel stress rising I will observe the hourly pauses to keep check on myself and to appreciate the moment as it unfolds.

Today’s total practice time: 30 minutes