The Big Question: In Our Harried Times, How Do You Recharge?

Staying connected to ourselves is so important during the coronavirus crisis. No matter how much or how little time we have, if it’s not intentional—I have five minutes, let me enjoy this coffee—we miss the benefits. Here are a few techniques to create at least one pause a day, tuning in to your five senses.

Belly Breath Pause

Take one deep, intentional breath. Work up to 10 breaths.

Digital Device Pause

Screen fatigue, anyone? Create a new recharge rule or ritual. No news after 6 p.m., maybe, or
only 15 minutes of social media a day.

Expressing Pause

Give yourself the gift to express yourself. We are all having a lot of feelings right now. Write
or journal. Dance. Name a feeling. Have a conversation. When we express ourselves, we honor how we feel as we connect with ourselves or others. The benefit is we feel recharged, more
alive, and more engaged afterward.

—Rachael O’Meara is the author of Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break (TarcherPerigee, 2017) and host of Pausecast, a podcast featuring interviews with experts on emotional intelligence and mindfulness. She earned an M.B.A. at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business in 2004 and has worked in sales and client services at Google for more than 10 years.