Take Moments to Pause

Summer is here and so is the Louisiana heat! As the season arrives, our homes generally get busier with kids coming and going more throughout the day. While this time tends to remind us to take vacations and schedule outings, we also need to keep a rhythm of “pause” in our lives. 

Life in general, especially these days, is so busy. Cell phones buzz and ring, emails come in at a dizzying pace, and activities abound keeping us running. We can be reached anytime, anywhere. This leads to being overstimulated, unfocused and disconnected. 

We know it is important to be intentional about consciously stepping back to pause both periodically throughout the day and for longer times to really refresh us personally and as families. Some of the things the Manuel Builders team does to practice pausing is taking breaks for five-minute walks together, weekly meditation times to slow down and clear our minds, downtime as a team outside of the office and fun games planned for the entire staff. Vacationing with family and friends periodically throughout the year is also recognized as being important. 

Research confirms how invigorating and refreshing rest and recreation time is for our brains and our bodies. It is proven that this down-time makes us mentally sharper and more creative. Rest increases our performance and increases our sense of fulfillment at work and in life. 

We would ask that this summer you intentionally take time out to pause from all the busyness and practice some self-care. Take time with family and friends to slow down and focus on one another. 

What do you do to intentionally slow the pace of your life down? What are some ways you reset and do a reboot that refreshes? Pausing does not have to be complicated. It can be getting in nature together, having personal discussions at the family dinner table, couch time as a couple, hands-on activities, cooking or boat riding. The ideas are endless. These are such great ways to refresh, build connections and slow down to experience some fun. 

Try this simple exercise at the dinner table to focus and connect device-free. Instead of the usual “How was your day?”, a question that mostly results with “good” and just a little more, try one of these open-ended sentences to spice up the conversation. It is a fresh way to slow down, connect, and share thoughts, experiences and feelings. It also can provide great insight on what is actually meaningful to the ones closest to us. 

RULES OF THE GAME: 

1. Start with: “How would you finish this sentence?” 

2. Then, listen. This is a great way to help every family member feel valued and heard, if everyone gets their turn to speak and listen. 

3. Choose one sentence for your turn or create your own.

• Today was a good day because...
• I am excited that this summer I...
• I am proud of what I did about...
• Something I really like about myself is...
• Something I’ve done for my family that I am proud of is...
• Something I’ve done for someone else that I am proud of is…
• My favorite ever family vacation or activity was….
• Keep the excitement & freedom of summer alive and fast-paced but remember to take time to pause, slow down together, connect and make great memories!!

These are some local activities that may help in planning some fun this summer. Enjoy!! Lafayette Moms Blog - The Ultimate Guide to Summer CampLouisiana Travel - Fifty Ideas for Summer Fun

-Written by Co-Owner, Missy Manuel