While I’ve always known the value of stillness, these past 10 days have given me deeper insight into how it affects my mood and interactions with others. Here’s what I’ve noticed about intentional stillness so far:

I feel best when I have stillness in the morning. It helps me stay focused, centered, and grounded throughout the day. When my morning stillness doesn’t happen or is interrupted, I feel off balance and can start my day a little grumpy. Recognizing this has made me more intentional about going to bed earlier, avoiding the snooze button, and waking up with enough time before my children are up.

When I’m in the flow of work, stopping for stillness feels too abrupt, making it hard to truly settle. Midday stillness isn’t something I can schedule. For me, stillness during the day is a form of self-care—responding to feelings of overwhelm or honoring my body’s need for rest or reset. It feels most meaningful when it happens organically.

One part of the day where I can intentionally schedule stillness is before seeing a client. This pause feels essential, helping me show up fully present and engaged. Similarly, I’ve noticed I’m a better mom when I take a few minutes of stillness before picking up my kids. Creating an intentional pause between managing life’s responsibilities and spending time with my kids allows me to be more present and connected with them. Prioritizing this pause before school pickup is especially difficult, but as I recognize its importance, I’m working to make it a priority.

In the evening, intentional stillness can feel challenging because it requires energy that passive activities like watching TV or scrolling on my phone don’t. That said, stillness in the evening sparks creativity in me, and I feel restored afterward.

These observations are true for me right now, but they may not resonate with everyone—or even with me in a different season. I share them as an encouragement to slow down and notice how even 15 minutes of stillness can impact your day, mood, and relationships.

What have you noticed about stillness in your life?