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* Pause … and Refresh

by Val Boyko
Comments 34

mindful pause at work

“Whenever an answer, a solution, or a creative idea is needed, stop thinking for a moment by focusing attention on your inner energy field. … When you resume thinking, it will be fresh and creative.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

Most of us know this to be true, yet how many times do we take time for a conscious pause in order to refresh ourselves? I know that I used to pour myself an other cup of coffee and push through.

Let’s face the truth – This “where there’s a will, there’s a way” mentality results in mediocre work, as well as stress and fatigue.

For goodness and wellness sake, move your body and take a few deep breaths. Get out of your head for a few minutes … and notice the difference.

Taking a lunch break during the day is often overlooked nowadays. Yet this is the most important thing we can do to be fresh and creative!

I’m grateful to teach Mindful Hatha yoga at lunchtimes in two companies right now. Bringing together mindfulness and movement ensures everyone feels better and goes back to work with a lighter step and a smile on their face 😊

Please follow this link for more inspiration on Mini Mindful Moments.

34 comments on “* Pause … and Refresh”

  1. Kate Crimmins
    August 10, 2016

    There were many days when I worked when I would go walk around the building to clear my head and sometimes my emotions. I would come back sane (somewhat) and refreshed. Answers come easier then. Not taking a lunch break is a big mistake. It also makes people cranky.

    Liked by 3 people

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    • Val Boyko
      August 10, 2016

      I so agree Kate! There are too many cranky stressed out people at work these days. The pace is getting more and more hectic, but the need for a break is often overlooked.
      Thank you 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. IreneDesign2011
    August 10, 2016

    You said it so beautiful Val. To get out of our heads, so true 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Infinite Living
    August 10, 2016

    Very true! Thinking can become very limiting and also depleting sometimes …

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Jill Weatherholt
    August 10, 2016

    I confess, I don’t take a lunch break at work. If I stop, I have a difficult time restarting. But I do work straight through lunch so I can leave at 2:00. This gives me plenty of time to workout, write, read and relax, once I’m home. Love the Tolle quote!

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. David Kanigan
    August 10, 2016

    That short break does wonders.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Healing Grief
    August 10, 2016

    There are so many beautiful places to be besides my head! Namaste 🙏🏻💚

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. socialbridge
    August 10, 2016

    Hi Val, does a siesta count? I’m a huge advocate and practitioner of same!!

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. Eliza Waters
    August 10, 2016

    What a great service you provide! Yoga at work, how awesome is that?

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Ann Coleman
    August 10, 2016

    Wonderful advice, Val! Thank you.

    Like

    Reply
  10. ViewPacific
    August 11, 2016

    Thanks for the reminders, Val. Congrats in teaching yoga at two companies. Lucky them!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Hariod Brawn
      August 11, 2016

      Hey, Vincent – are you still blogging? I haven’t heard from you in yonks.

      Liked by 2 people

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      • ViewPacific
        August 13, 2016

        My dear Hariod, it’s a pleasure to hear from you again and I appreciate you checking in. I’ve noticed the most inspiring and authentic blogs are grounded in life experience. So, I’m out and about creating and enjoying those. I’ll be back blogging again before too long. So, please stay tuned.
        How about for yourself?
        Vincent

        Liked by 2 people

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        • Hariod Brawn
          August 13, 2016

          Oh yes, your blog is still definitely subscribed to. 🙂 For myself, then I just post once every six or seven weeks nowadays, and find that to be the right balance for me. I spend far more of my blogging time reading and interacting on others’ blogs than working on my own. Anyway, I look forward to reading your thoughts and reflections my friend, whenever they appear. 🙂

          Liked by 2 people

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    • Val Boyko
      August 11, 2016

      Thanks Vincent! Its good to hear your voice 💛
      I love bringing yoga out of the studio and introducing more people to the benefits. xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • ViewPacific
        August 13, 2016

        Thank you, Val. I’ve heard from more than one of my yoga teachers that life off the mat can be deeper practice than in the shala. I love how each moment can bring us more alive.
        Thanks for all you’re doing.
        Vincent

        Liked by 2 people

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  11. Sue Dreamwalker
    August 11, 2016

    Our heads are often too full.. So loved when you said “Get out of your head for a few minutes “… And yes you really do notice a difference.. 🙂

    After a wonderful morning on Tuesday after my Granddaughter had had a sleep over, a three mile bike ride while I was walking.. Lots of playing, and imagination, painting, and other activities.. After lunch I said lets give Granddad a rest.. So we went for a medi.. I put on a short CD talking us through a walk.. She and I drifted through corn fields and crystal caves.. to fall asleep.. To have Granddad wake us an hour later We paused and were Refreshed.. 🙂 for the next session of play.. 🙂

    Love and Hugs dear Val.. thank you for your wonderful insightful posts..

    Liked by 2 people

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  12. belasbrightideas
    August 11, 2016

    I don’t know when I stopped forcing the river, but at some point – after swimming across a narrower part of the Colorado River a few times (walk upstream, swim like hell and arrive downstream, walk double the distance upriver, swim back) and after whitewater rafting a few times – I simply joined in the river’s flow. It’s a great visual, should one care to use it – stepping into the swirling currents and allowing them to envelop and embrace, washing thoughts and useless detritus of the mind away. Of course there are people who fear water for whatever reason, so perhaps a visual of the blur of freeway traffic (photos online ad infinitum) would work – merging one’s thoughts into that rainbow stream of lights, winding nowhere in particular until the mind is stilled. Peace to you, Val, as we wind down another week! Aloha ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Val Boyko
      August 11, 2016

      That really is an awesome visual Bela … I can relate to a smaller river from my childhood.. “stepping into the swirling currents and allowing them to envelop and embrace, washing thoughts and useless detritus of the mind away.” Perfect!
      Blurring freeway traffic may be more accessible for people … unless they have had an accident. Let everyone create their own imagery for this one 💕

      Liked by 1 person

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      • belasbrightideas
        August 11, 2016

        For sure. I only ever mean this kind of thing as a suggestion. My life is blessedly different now, but I spent 30 years teaching these kinds of things to others in practice, writing, on radio, blah, blah, blah – hard to shake it off sometimes 😉 Aloha, Val!

        Liked by 1 person

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  13. elizabeth2560
    August 15, 2016

    My days now are an open book, so sometimes I forget to take a break from that openness. Yet doing so still works wonders.

    Liked by 1 person

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