Pausing for What Matters

Ding. I cringe. Another message. Every time I think I’m done with my work, another notification arrives.

Through the window, I can see the kids and dog playing in the front yard, and I long to join them. I promised them I would when my work was finished, but today it seems never-ending.

So, I make a decision. I set the computer aside and step outside.

John Lubbock once said, “Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body.” And oh, how I agree with him. Whether stressed, overwhelmed, or completely content with life, I find profound relief and restoration in spending time in nature.

As I watch my children laugh and my dog bound across the grass, I realize something important: These messages will always be there. The work will never truly be “done.” But these moments—these precious slivers of joy and connection—are fleeting.

The inbox can wait, but childhood doesn’t. The emails will still be there in thirty minutes, but this particular spring afternoon, with these specific giggles and this unique quality of sunlight, will never come again.

Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is step away. In giving ourselves permission to pause, we return to our work with renewed clarity, creativity, and perspective that no amount of pushing through could have provided.

Today, I choose presence over productivity. Tomorrow, I’ll be better for it—both professionally and personally.

What small moments are you missing while waiting for your work to be “done”? What might happen if you stepped away, just for a little while?