3 Routines for Leveraging the Intentional Pause as a Daily Mindfulness Practice for Busy Professionals Handling Workplace Challenges

Denise Pyles
2 min readApr 13, 2024
Photo Credit: Denise Pyles, Anacortes, WA

Do you sometimes feel caught in a whirlwind of deadlines and meetings at work?

What if I told you that one powerful antidote is already within you? It integrates the intentional pause as a daily mindfulness practice.

Here are three routines to help you make the intentional pause work for you.

Routine #1. Sensory Check-In

Pause periodically to check in with your senses and ground yourself in the present moment. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths while consciously noticing what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.

Tip: Set reminders throughout the day to prompt these sensory check-ins.

Example: Pause during your commute to appreciate the sights and sounds around you, even in a bustling city.

Routine #2. Digital Detox Breaks

Take intentional pauses from screens to reduce digital overwhelm and recharge your mental batteries. Set boundaries around screen time during breaks and carve out tech-free zones in your home or workspace.

--

--

Denise Pyles

I ghostwrite Educational Email Courses on micro-mindfulness for thought leaders in high-pressure tech. I'm a former nun with 35K+ hours of mindfulness practice.