Permission To Pause

For 35 years, I ran at full speed in procurement, negotiating deals, juggling contracts, and making sure everything was in order. In negotiations, we had a tactic called the "power pause"—a strategic moment of silence that could shift the entire conversation. It turns out, I need to start using that same tactic in my own life.

Now, I’ve been retired for four weeks, and let me tell you—adjusting to the idea that I don’t have to go full throttle every day has been harder than I expected. I have time, real time, to do the things I want. But here’s the thing: just because I can do all the things doesn’t mean I should do all the things. And giving myself permission to pause has been a process.

The Great Reboot

Think about when your computer starts acting sluggish—what do you do? You hit reset. You turn it off and back on so it can function better. We need the same thing in our lives. We can’t run on overdrive forever. I know this logically, but my inner taskmaster didn’t get the memo.

Since retiring, I’ve been hitting the gym every day, getting stronger, feeling great, but still feeling like I need to be doing something all the time. And if I’m not doing something productive? Well, then my brain tells me I’m slacking. Never mind that I’ve spent decades being productive—I still feel like I should be checking off a to-do list. Old habits die hard.

Signs It’s Time to Pause

Here’s how I know I needed to slow down:

• That annoying twitch in my left eye? Gone.
• My husband, Dan, still has to nudge me at night to stop grinding my teeth, but hey, progress!
• I keep briefly searching for my second work phone before remembering—I don’t have one anymore.
• I’ve had to intentionally figure out how to be unintentional with my time.

Pausing has allowed me to think beyond the daily checklist. Instead of just tackling laundry and errands, I’ve started asking, What’s next? Not in the frantic, “I need to stay busy” way, but in a way that opens space for something bigger.

The Power of Stillness

One of the biggest lessons I’m learning is that slowing down allows me to actually hear from God. I think He’s always talking, but was I ever quiet enough to listen?

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Be still. Not "be productive." Not "check everything off your list." Just be still. I don’t think I’ve ever been great at that. But I’m trying.

How to Give Yourself Permission to Pause

1. Schedule Your Pause – This might sound counterintuitive, but if you’re used to being busy, sometimes you have to actually schedule time to slow down. Block out time on your calendar for nothing. Yes, nothing.
2. Replace Scrolling with Something Meaningful – I’ve been working on scrolling less and journaling more. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Social media is a sneaky time-sucker, but writing things down helps me process this transition in a deeper way.
3. Redefine Productivity – Resting is productive. Thinking is productive. Sitting in a cozy chair with a cup of tea, a soft blanket, and just being is productive. We don’t always have to measure our days by how many tasks we complete.
4. Give Yourself Grace – This is new. It’s an adjustment. And just like learning any new habit, it takes time. If you find yourself slipping back into overdrive, gently remind yourself—you have permission to pause.

Finding Peace in the Pause

Slowing down is uncomfortable at first, but I know it’s necessary. Pausing doesn’t mean stopping forever—it just means creating space. Space to breathe. Space to listen. Space to let the next chapter unfold instead of forcing it into existence.

So if you’re in a season of transition, like me, or just feeling the weight of always going, I encourage you—take the pause. The world will keep spinning. The dishes will still be there. But you? You’ll be better for it.

And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, in the stillness, you’ll hear exactly what you need to hear.