Hello Reader,

We don’t like stopping. We convince ourselves that rest equals laziness, that pausing means falling behind. But what if stopping was actually a strategy?

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to pause?

We push through exhaustion. We ignore burnout. We tell ourselves, “Just one more thing,” before allowing a break. But here’s what I’ve learned: Pausing isn’t quitting—it’s recalibrating.

The best athletes don’t train nonstop—they rest and recover. The best ideas don’t come when you’re overwhelmed—they show up when you create space. The pause isn’t a waste of time—it’s what makes the next step possible.

As March comes to a close, I challenge you: Take a breath. Step back. Reflect. What needs your attention right now? And what might need a pause?

Because sometimes, the best way forward is to stop—just for a moment.

Look

When was the last time you truly grasped just how little—yet how much—time we have? Every step through this film is a reminder of how vast the past is… and how brief our moment might feel. (And yet, our moment still matters.) As March winds down and we reflect on where we are and where we’re going, this film offers the perfect pause to zoom out—and then zoom back in with greater clarity. Watch it here.​

Listen

On this month's "Wayback Week" episode of A Productive Conversation, I revisit my chat with Austin Kleon from April 2019. He shares why routines matter, how boundaries protect attention, and what it means to create space—not just physically, but mentally. He talks about the importance of stepping back so creativity can step forward. If you’ve been craving room to think, this is the pause you didn’t know you needed. Listen here.​

Learn

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about attention and awareness—and few thinkers have shaped how we understand those concepts more than Daniel Kahneman. Earlier this week marked the anniversary of his passing but what I didn’t know until recently was how consciously he approached the end of his life. This piece in The Wall Street Journal doesn’t just explore that—it reveals something many of us might not expect. I’m not sharing this to take a stance, but rather to spotlight something I learned—something that caused me to pause. Read it here.​

The Final Flicker

Stopping doesn’t always mean stopping for good. Sometimes, it just means making space.

A deep breath before the next big push. A moment of quiet before diving into what’s next. A chance to reset, to step back, to remind yourself that progress isn’t just about movement—it’s about direction.

So before the next thing pulls at your attention, take a pause. What needs space right now?

See you later,
Mike

P.S. I’m quietly opening enrollment for the Spring cohort of Maximize Your Minutes — my 5-week group coaching experience rooted in the principles of The Productivity Diet. If you’re curious and want to learn more (or want to explore non-USD pricing), just hit reply and let me know. I’ll send you the details personally.

Thanks for reading. Your time is valuable, and I don’t take it for granted. In a world pulling us in all directions, thanks for choosing The Lantern.

Productivityist Productivity Services Inc. | 1411 Haultain Street, Victoria, BC V8R 2J6
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