Life can be busy. And with the busyness around us, we sometimes forget to reconnect with and recharge ourselves.

I was given a stark reminder last year that something needed to change when I realised that I had forgotten how to power off my mobile phone!

My Phone Was Always On, And Thus So Was I

I thought the convenience of mobile technology was great as I could work and check up stuff anytime. It was and still is – but the counter to the convenience was that I had started to get very easily distracted by my phone. Suddenly the social media updates were more important than having a heart-to-heart conversation with my children.

When I took a “pause” for myself, I realised how much of the little things in life I was taking for granted: talking with my kids about their dreams, taking a walk in the garden barefoot, or simply noticing my breath. While these may seem minute, a reconnection with these simple things helped me remember why I do what I do and what was important to me.

How I Take My Pauses

I have a pause at different levels and at various times. So I start my day slow with rituals like prayer, 10 deep breaths and a cup of tea.

Through the day, if I feel flustered or feel my heart racing, I just stop and take three deep breaths wherever I am and then continue what I was doing. On a weekly

On a weekly basis, I spend time doing some form of exercise, not only for its obvious physical benefits but also as a way for me to put on my earphones and go deep within myself as I exercise.

Lastly, 3-4 times a month, I book in my diary some form of a trip or personal development space which I go to be by myself and without my family.

I Noticed Others Needed To Pause Too

The constant barrage of work and responsibilities often seems to leave others overwhelmed as well, feeling a sense of “no time” and being busy. With the wider environment buckling down for tough economic times, it felt counter-intuitive for me to be talking about taking a “pause”. However, it was precisely because there was so much going on around us that we needed to take a step back and reconnect with ourselves to help us move forward stronger.

So I started to offer a space and time for people to take a breath and reconnect with themselves in a safe place.

The Instant Pause – A Simple Yet Powerful Day

I feel that we all need to find our natural rhythm and do what best suits our lifestyles and needs.

If someone has never tried a disconnection from ‘being on’ – which is very easy in our hyperconnected world – then I would definitely recommend taking time out for yourself and noticing what that does for you. Sometimes this is hard to do by ourselves which is why I offer a safe space and protected time for people to pause.

Through individual timelines, creating vision boards, and group check-ins, people are gently guided into reconnecting with what they value and hold most dear. There is deep honouring of our past achievements before we set our intentions for the coming future.

For me, this is wonderful and humbling work. I am always honoured by the people who attend the Instant Pause because at some level it is a leap of faith for them – not fully knowing what they have signed up for!

I have courage to continue doing this work because of people like Noorindah Iskandar. She said, “The Instant Pause unclogged me emotionally and while in the past I may have gone in expecting answers and absolute direction, I came out feeling hopeful and clearer about what I hold true to myself and how I want to feel as I continue to work out my answers. The one statement that resonated with me as I left that day is that I want to be strong, but strong on my own terms.”

I think in our fast-paced life, we are slowing losing the art of the pause and this could lead to exhaustion, tiredness and a lack of direction. If you need some space and time to slow down, reflect and take a breath which connects you to your inner core, I hope to see you soon.

Join Anu’s next Instant Pause
28 Oct, 10am-5pm at Lime House, Chinatown