Small Pauses, Meaningful Change
Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of prioritizing our wellbeing.
And while many of us genuinely want to, the reality is that our days can feel incredibly full from the moment we wake up until the time we finally go to bed.
The pace of life is fast. The demands are constant. And slowing down long enough to check in on ourselves - to notice how we are and offer ourselves a bit of care or ease - can sometimes feel extremely difficult.
In a recent LinkedIn poll, I asked:
“What makes it hardest for you to prioritize your own wellbeing?”
The top responses tied for first place:
Time pressure + workload
Not knowing where to start
This is something that so many of my clients, many of whom are high performers, often share with me and I honestly think so many of us can relate to that.
This theme came up in two recent conferences I had the joy and honor of speaking at - the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation annual conference and the second annual Pennsylvania Menopause Conference.
While they were very different organizations and audiences, the common thread was clear: people are carrying a lot. Perhaps now more than ever.
Whether it’s the emotional weight of difficult cases, caregiving responsibilities, leadership pressure, challenging relationships, health concerns, or demanding seasons of life like perimenopause and menopause, stress impacts all of us in different ways.
And what I like to remind people is this:
Mindfulness practice does not have to be all or nothing.
While formal meditation can certainly be supportive, many people simply do not have the time, energy, or capacity for long practices every day.
The good news is that even brief moments of awareness and small informal practices woven into everyday life can help us step out of autopilot, regulate our stress levels and reactivity, and incline our minds and bodies in the direction of greater ease.
Baby steps matter.
In fact, small practices practiced consistently can lead to profound shifts over time.
They can become an important gateway into deeper self-care, greater resilience, and more sustainable ways of moving through our lives.
Recently, I recorded a short 12-minute podcast episode sharing one simple, yet effective practice called “Three Relaxing Sighs,” which is a brief breathing exercise that can help calm the nervous system and invite a bit of ease during stressful moments.
It’s practical, accessible, and can be done anytime, anywhere - even in the middle of a busy day.
🎧 I’d love for you to give it a listen here:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/AFSD-57f5GI
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gtL9DJx69jjeWgEt6xeAG?si=fr6UWaRpTI6dEJ3kKQFc7g
As Mental Health Awareness Month continues, I’m grateful to have several opportunities later this month to continue sharing practical mindfulness tools that can support people in sustainable ways.
Rest to Rise™
I’m honored to be part of Rest to Rise™, a free virtual summit happening May 19-22, created by Chandani Patel Thompson.
This summit brings together professionals across many fields - mental health experts, lawyers, therapists, and leaders - to explore what sustainable success can actually look like in real life.
In my session on May 22, I’ll be sharing simple, practical mindfulness tools that can help you:
step out of autopilot
regulate reactivity in high-pressure moments
invite more ease and support clearer thinking and sustainable performance
These are practices that do not require stepping away from your life or work.
Instead, they help us meet even the most challenging moments with greater groundedness, resilience, and presence.
If this resonates, I’d love for you to join me and the incredible lineup of speakers.
🔗 Register for free here: https://rest2rise.clarityprint.co/url/speaker-schulnick
Free Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In Sessions
I’ll also be offering two free 15-minute Zoom drop-in guided mindfulness practices on the last two Thursdays of the month: May 21 + May 28 from 4:00-4:15 PM (ET).
You do not need to have any prior meditation experience.
This is simply an opportunity to start small, pause together, and practice with the support of community.
Sometimes even 15 minutes can create a meaningful shift in how we feel and move through the rest of our day.
Zoom Invitation:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82037364749?pwd=FTkpuVhJTPY1MMeWQCuSBm9capg2CA.1
Meeting ID: 820 3736 4749
Passcode: 792097
Clarity Under Pressure: Mindfulness for Attorneys
And later this month, I’ll also be joining Niraj Chhabra, CFP, MBA, CLTC, CRPC of SideBar Advisors for a LinkedIn Live conversation:
Clarity Under Pressure: Mindfulness for Attorneys | May 27 | 2:30-3:00 PM (ET)
We’ll explore the impact chronic stress can have on the body, mind, and performance and discuss simple, science-backed mindfulness tools that can help attorneys cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and intentionality both professionally and personally.
I hope you’ll join us.
🔗 Register for free here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/clarityunderpressure-mindfulnes7456029195870035968/theater/
And wherever you are right now, I hope this serves as a gentle reminder:
You do not have to overhaul your entire life overnight.
Sometimes even the tiniest of pauses, the smallest moments of awareness, and the littlest acts of self-care can become the beginning of meaningful change.