We’re only a few weeks into December, and I can already feel the rush in the air.
The lists, the decisions, the events, the expectations, the juggling — it all builds so quickly. Even the good things can make the days feel full and fast.
And in that fullness, something powerful has been whispering to me this week:
Pause.
Not a big pause.
Not a “clear the calendar, go on a retreat” pause.
Just the small kind — the one that lasts a breath, or a moment, or a quiet beat right before the next step.
A pause that changes everything.
Sometimes it’s just a moment in your brain when you gently coach yourself to stop, take a deep breath, close your eyes for a second, and tune out the world — the noise, the expectations, the pressure swirling around you.
A Moment From This Week
There was a point this week when I felt myself slipping into that familiar December swirl — too many tabs open in my brain, ideas running faster than my hands could keep up, technology misbehaving, and that reflexive urge to push through creeping in.
And underneath that?
A flicker of the old “not good enough” feeling.
The worry that I wasn’t meeting expectations — from others, or even from myself.
But instead of pushing…
I stopped.
I closed my eyes.
I let myself breathe.
And I gave myself permission to pause before reacting.
It didn’t fix everything.
But it changed everything.
My shoulders softened.
My thoughts slowed.
I could choose my next step instead of tumbling into it.
Sometimes the pause doesn’t solve the problem —
it simply gives us back our footing.
And for me, when the weather allows, a walk on the trail becomes its own soothing reset — for both my body and my brain.
Why This Matters (Especially Now)
This time of year pulls us in so many directions — emotionally, physically, and mentally. It’s easy to react quickly, move quickly, and fill every corner of the day without noticing how we’re truly doing.
But the pause gives us space:
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Space to respond rather than react
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Space to listen rather than assume
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Space to breathe rather than rush
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Space to return to ourselves instead of getting swept away
And sometimes…
that tiny moment of spaciousness is the difference between overwhelm and clarity.
✨ OT Reflection
Pausing is a core piece of self-regulation.
It’s the moment when we recognize:
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I need a breath.
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I need a moment.
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I need to bring my engine back to center.
When we honor that awareness, we shift our nervous system from high-alert or sluggishness back toward functional, steady participation.
And here’s the other piece:
When we support our own regulation, we’re in a better position to support those we serve.
Caregivers, DSPs, and activity staff often move quickly out of necessity — but when we model pausing, we show others:
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I’m here.
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I see you.
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We have time.
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You matter.
This is where validation before evaluation truly begins.
With a pause.
✨ Caregiver Connection
A few truths I’ve noticed over the years:
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Caregivers often move fast because the day demands it.
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But slowing down — even for a breath — changes communication.
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Pausing sends a message of honor and presence.
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It shows the individual you support that you’re not rushing past them… you’re here with them.
And in our Make-It-Monday creative moments, I see this magic all the time.
When we pause, explore, create, and notice, ideas and expressions emerge that would have been missed in a rush.
We all have something to share — and pausing gives everyone room for their voice.
✨ Practical Takeaway: A Few Tools to Try
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A one-breath reset.
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A grounding moment: give yourself a hug, press your palms into the wall, or do a gentle heavy-work movement.
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Pick one next step instead of five.
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Use your mantra: Stop, pause, think, dream, and consider.
Small practices.
Big difference.
Closing Reflection
This season doesn’t demand perfection.
It doesn’t require nonstop energy.
And it certainly doesn’t need us rushing at a pace we can’t maintain.
What it does ask — gently, quietly — is for us to pause long enough to notice what matters… and to notice ourselves.
So if today becomes busy,
or plans shift,
or emotions rise,
or things feel heavier than expected…
Take the pause.
It’s always available.
And it always leads you back to your center.
Reflection Question
✨ Where in your day could one small pause create a gentler, clearer moment for you or someone you support?