What are you going to do? is a question that many of us have heard over different seasons of our lives. Maria Schriver shares her perspective through a college graduation speech “The Power of the Pause” she gave back in 2012.

In the beginning of her career, she worked a desk job in the newsroom. While she was at her desk job she was asked “When are you going to be on ‘the air’? Then she gradually advanced to being in front of the camera reporting. Now, the question was “When will you be on network news?” She goes on with several more examples and we quickly get the point. It’s exhausting. Every time she advanced in her career or personal life someone was always asking “What comes next?”

“It’s as if this moment right now doesn’t even exist.” Schriver commented. Taking a deep breath and being in the moment is important. It forces us to get off the merry go round of busyness and appreciate the moment we’re in.

When Simon Biles, Olympic gymnastic medalist, was asked at the end of an interview what her plans were after the Tokyo Olympics? Biles told the interviewer she was going to take it one day at a time.

Prior to this interview, Biles had experienced ‘the twisties’ while she was in mid air during the vault event earlier in the competition. I learned that the twisties means that when you’re in the air you lose track of where the ground is until you land. Biles stepped back from the competition after this for her own mental health and her physical safety. Biles showed her courage when she competed in the finals for the beam event and won the bronze.

These stories highlight the need to take a pause and enjoy the moment before planning the next steps down the road. Here are 5 easy ways to pause. They vary from taking a deep breath to taking a walk.

Breathe

Take a deep breath. It’s your bodies way of telling your brain it’s time to be calm and relax. This technique is helpful to use before leading a meeting, interview or driving in traffic. Realize that the stressful moment is temporary.

Crochet or Knitting

Crochet and knitting have similar effects as meditation. The repetitive motion gives your brain something to focus on and you also become calmer in the process. Tom Daly, U.K. diver gold medalist, was seen knitting in the stands at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. “The one thing that has kept me sane throughout this whole process is my love for knitting and crochet and all things stitching,” Daley said on Instagram.

Walking Meditation

Leave your music and earbuds at home. Walking meditation is known to reduce anxiety and improves our quality of sleep. Instead of focusing on your breath like traditional meditation the focus is on the rhythm of your walk and your surroundings.

Coloring

Adult coloring books can reduce your stress too. When your coloring it focuses the brain and it’s similar to meditation. It also aids in relaxation. This is a good way to unwind before falling asleep at night.

Digital Detox

Another way to take a break can be done by taking a digital break. This means ignoring Social Media, email and texts for a short period of time to focus on a work project or more quality family time.

The choice is yours. How will you recharge?