When I was a kid, I loved going back to school. We would get new shoes, new clothes, school supplies, and most importantly, a new box of crayons! Honestly, a fresh box of crayons is one of my all-time favorite things. Of course you can sharpen crayons, but there is something about the pristine shape they come in a new pack. But I digress.

As a parent, back-to-school is exciting as well, but it can also be quite stressful. In fact, if life had a pause button, back-to-school season would be a great time to press it.

Not only to take a deep breath and be ready to take on the year, but also to reflect on the fun and joy experienced over the summer break.

This year feels especially big for our family. Both of my girls are starting at new schools. One is stepping into high school and the other is beginning junior high. Two new buildings, two new sets of teachers…two new adventures unfolding all at once.

Maybe that is why summer felt so good this year. It feels like the school year just ended, but I guess that what happens when you’re having so much fun. We spent a lot of time playing outdoors, hosting sleepovers, supporting the youngest at basketball tournaments, and checking out the big summer blockbuster movies. (My favorite was Superman, but Fantastic Four was a close second.).

There were late nights that turned into later mornings and plenty of days where the plan was simply to have no plan at all.

And now, rudely, the season has shifted. The long evenings and slow starts gave way to supply lists, new schedules, and the buzz of a school year just beginning. It is a lot, even when it is exciting.

This week we are talking about creating little pauses in the middle of change so we can step into what is next with more calm, more joy, and more intentionality.

Keeping with the back to school theme, I thought it would be fun to talk about one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. Saved by the Bell.

Saved by the Bell was a bright, fast-talking sitcom set in the halls of Bayside High. At the center was Zack Morris, the charming troublemaker who could get away with almost anything. His secret weapon was the ability to pause time and speak directly to the audience, stepping out of the scene to share his thoughts before jumping back in. (Waaay before Deadpool made it popular.)

It was his way of controlling the moment and gathering his thoughts even when everything else was spinning out of control.

We can’t stop time the way Zack did, but we can create our own version of that pause.

It might be a deep breath before answering a question, waiting a day before making a big purchase, or a quiet cup of coffee before the day starts moving.

These pauses give us a chance to step out of the noise, see things more clearly, and decide how we want the next part of the story to unfold.

Without them, life has a way of pulling us from one scene to the next before we are ready. With them, we get to be the main character, choosing our own lines and actions instead of letting the script be written for us.

Whether you call it minimalism or essentialism, the main driver behind both is the same. We want to be intentional with our resources. Our time, energy, focus, and even money should be used in ways that line up with our values.

The world moves at a fast pace. The clock never slows down, and with advancing technology (and age) it seems to only be accelerating. But when you notice this, you have the opportunity to step out of the raging current for a moment and apply a little intentionality.

That pause is the perfect space to notice what has built up around you. Clutter is not just the pile on the counter or the clothes you never wear. It can be commitments that no longer serve you, digital noise that eats your focus, or routines that no longer fit the season of life you are in.

Decluttering is simply removing what no longer matters so you have more room for what does. Pausing gives you the clarity to see what to release, and releasing frees up the energy to focus on what truly moves your story forward. Whether it is clearing a shelf, an afternoon, or a to-do list, each small choice shifts the pace and the plot of your life.

In this section every week, I’ll give step by step instructions on how to tackle one project. It could be something simple and small like this week’s assignment, or it could be more involved. Once you take on a few of these, you’ll learn some of the common strategies that can be applied to just about anything.

My hope for this newsletter is to make it feel like a mini-coaching session with me.

So now, it’s time to…

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Life rarely slows down on its own.

Creating small pauses is how we step out of the rush, clear what does not belong, and make room for what matters. Even one intentional pause a day can improve focus, reduce stress, and help you move through the week with more control.

Like Zack Morris calling a “time out,” you have the ability to pause your own scene, decide what comes next, and step back in with a clear plan.

If you want support building more space and intention into your days, my 1:1 coaching is designed to help you simplify, clarify, and follow through.

Reply to this email and we can talk about how to make it work for you.

Talk soon.