I’ve practiced several different morning routines over the years, but none have really stuck. I understand the importance of a good morning routine, and I am always happier when I can get myself settled and set in the morning before the hecticness of everything starts, but inevitably, the lure of my cozy bed wins out over the alarm clock.

Last weekend I was feeling extremely overwhelmed. I had a to do list which seemed insurmountable, and no motivation to climb that mountain. I was coming off a busy week and had some looming deadlines which were creeping up faster than I would have liked.

I have always thought I was a fairly positive person, but about 13 years ago, someone challenged me on that belief. I asked around and a couple people reinforced that despite how I saw myself, they saw me as leaning towards the negative. It shocked me and made me really think and reflect.

About a year ago, I met someone who would become a good friend. At the time, we had a different relationship, but I took a risk one day and the return has been amazing to say the least.

Last week I was excited to take Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead course. It was a long, but amazing, three days and I learned so much. Kim Knull facilitated a fabulous, but intensive workshop.

We learn in different ways. This should come as no shock, but yet, our actions don’t always reflect this knowledge. Teachers and the education system has start to act on this in the past 15 years or so, but mainstream business hasn’t as much.

I have read many leadership books, but I think one of my favorites is still The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. I have read many of his books and they’re all great, but this one distills down characteristics of great teams.

A couple of weeks ago, I was mindlessly scrolling through my Facebook feed when a friend’s post caught my eye(I will call him, Peter - not his real name, but easier than constantly writing “my friend”).

Peter’s post read:

Ugh. Already late handing in an assignment and I just can’t get my fire lit. Help!

It’s nearing the end of the first week of my Academic Writing and Critical Thinking course and I am starting to feel better about it.

The course started Monday and looking back at my text messages from that day, I can pull out a common theme that could best be summarized as “Crap. What did I sign up for?

An important part of leadership is to pause and take breaks (as I mentioned in THIS Pause blog post). Sometimes those breaks are mental breaks to recoup and recover. Other times, they should be clarity breaks where you take a step back and focus on your business or your life. It’s a chance to clear your mind of the thousand questions and thoughts flying around and get them down on paper.