Intro to "Just Breathe" Moments
Hey, exercise fans. What’s the one phrase you hear in every workout class, no matter the discipline?
CrossFit. Pilates. Orangetheory. HIIT. Zumba. Barre. Yoga.
Different formats. Same reminder:
“Just breathe.”
Now let me ask you something.
Leaders — how often do
For leaders, this isn’t a nice-to-have or a wellness trend. It’s a necessity.
The Leader’s Guilt Trap
Many leaders feel guilty stepping away during the workday — even briefly.
I did, for years.
Here’s what my days used to look like:
- Log in first thing and immediately check email
- Respond to as many messages as possible before meetings began
- Do quick check-ins with team members
- Spend the rest of the day pivoting between meetings, firefighting issues, supporting the team, and scanning emails whenever there was a pause
- Live in instant messaging — nonstop
- End the day answering remaining messages, checking on my people again, and clearing more email
Most days ran 10 hours straight, often without a real lunch break.
And to be fair — I got a lot done.
But here was the problem.
Supporting vs. Leading
As a leader, part of my job was to support my team — and I was good at that.
The other part was to lead.
Leading means:
- Looking ahead
- Anticipating obstacles
- Holding a clear vision for the future
That part? I wasn’t nearly as strong.
Why?
Because true leadership requires space. You have to lift your head up long enough to see the forest through the trees.
And when every minute is filled, that never happens.
Discovering the Power of “Just Breathe”
Later in my career, I started intentionally building “Just Breathe” moments into my workday.
At first, it felt wrong.
Shouldn’t I be working? There’s so much to do.
But over time, I saw the impact.
Those moments made me:
- More centered
- More focused
- Far more effective
Not because I was doing more, but because I was finally prioritizing the right things at the right time — not just for today, but for where my team needed to go next.
How I Changed My Workday
Here’s what those “Just Breathe” moments looked like in practice for me:
- Morning: A 15-minute walk around my neighborhood
- Midday: Another 15-minute walk at lunch
- End of day: One final walk before logging off
And this part matters:
No phone. No distractions.
The purpose wasn’t productivity — it was perspective.
The Questions I Reflected On
During those walks, I’d deliberately ask myself questions like:
- How is the team really doing?
- What do they need right now to be at their best?
- How do I need to adjust my time to meet those needs?
- How are we actually tracking against our 6‑month goals?
- Of today’s fires, which ones truly matter in the bigger picture?
- How did today go — and what should I adjust tomorrow?
- Do I have the right plan for my day and my week?
What Made These Moments So Effective
What I loved about these “Just Breathe” sessions:
- My mind finally had room to think beyond the day-to-day noise
- I wasn’t taking notes — so it wasn’t a planning meeting
- No audience meant a judgment-free zone
- I could be fully honest with myself
What I Gained From Them
The results surprised me.
- Some of my best ideas surfaced during these moments
- Slowing down helped me see things I had missed while moving fast
- I had multiple “aha” moments that changed how I showed up as a leader
- Other times, reflection confirmed I was on the right path — and gave me confidence to stay the course
My biggest learning lesson - clarity comes when the noise quiets.
A Call to Leaders
I can’t emphasize this enough:
Every leader needs “Just Breathe” moments.
If you want to truly lead , not just support, start here:
- Coach yourself to be okay with reflection time — it’s part of your job
- Choose a method that works for you (walks, sitting quietly, journaling)
- Commit to it for one month
- Adjust, give yourself grace, and try again for another month
I’m confident you’ll see the value — just like I did.