By Larry Davenport, OKDHS Volunteer Chaplain

While watching my grandson play football I found myself cheering at the top of my lungs. The players probably could not hear my voice or any one else around me. Never mind that many of the boys had never played football, they were only 9 and 10 years of age, but they knew how to have a good time. I was watching an adventure not football. Just a bunch of little guys trying to understand their coach, his strategy and even what game they were playing.

I thought to myself, what if the young football players could call a timeout for the spectators? Only a few timeouts exist during a football game, but if these kids could ask the ref for a time out for their parents and friends, mom could get a bottle of water, dad a bag of popcorn and maybe everyone could relax, take a deep breath and enjoy watching the kids play and have fun. Take a time out.

Many of us find ourselves so busy just living. We need to take a time out. We seem to be doing more than we did ever before but enjoying it much less. We are living our lives in an age of multitasking and doing far too many things at once. We want a more meaningful life. Take a time out.

  
Have you noticed that while you are climbing the ladder of success you are actually moving further away from what you really love? You may be making more money than you ever dreamed, have a bigger house and greater influence over others, but at what cost? Is it worth losing the joy of time with your family? Is your job keeping you away from home more than you'd like? Take a time out.

Every now and then make a list of things you would really like to do. Think about recreating those happier times. Take a trip down memory lane and look at old photographs or some old home movies. Think about what you were doing then and what you're doing now and how it has had an impact on you and your family. Take a time out.

How often have you said, “I don't have time for this or that”? Or you're so pushed for time that you find yourself counting the number of grocery items in the basket of the customer ahead of you in the express checkout line and find that a five-minute wait frustrates you. You have no time to talk to your family or friends. You are in activity overload. Take deliberate steps to slow down and do less. Take a time out.

Write down everything you do for a week and how much time you spend at each activity. This way you'll be able to take an inventory of how you spend your time. Start rating your activities according to their priority and decide to cut out the low priority ones that you don't enjoy. Take a time out.

Whenever you are feeling rushed or stressed, try to relax by deep breathing. Practice this when you are on hold, waiting in line or working on stressful projects at work. Take a time out.

Change your waiting time from lost time to found time. Carry a book, magazine or newspaper and read while you wait. Carry a MP3 player and listen to music to help reduce stress. Take a time out.

Don’t do several things at a time. It may seem to be more productive and efficient, but you actually end up overwhelmed. Practice doing one thing at a time and do a few simple things between the larger projects. This may help you do a better job. Take a time out.  

Learn to say "no." You may find it hard to do but you will be surprised how understanding people will react. Remember they are busy too. Take good care of yourself. You will live longer and healthier. When life starts to crash down on you, take a time out.