Strategic Pauses: The Tiny Habit That Can Change Your Work and Life

Imagine if the secret to your next breakthrough wasn’t working harder, but stopping—just for a minute. That’s the radical idea behind Juliet Funt’s concept of the 'strategic pause.' In a world obsessed with hustle, Funt’s research reveals that the best ideas, decisions, and connections happen in the gaps between tasks, not in the rush from one thing to the next.

Neuroscience backs her up: when we pause, our brain’s frontal lobe—the center of creativity and executive function—recovers and resets. Even a minute between meetings can spark insight. Funt’s 'Wedge' technique is simple: insert a brief, intentional pause between activities. Leaders who adopted this habit reported feeling less reactive, more thoughtful, and more creative. One executive even credited the practice with saving a multi-million-dollar project, after a pause helped them spot a critical flaw just in time.

Building this habit isn’t about taking long vacations—it’s about micro-pauses: a breath before sending an email, a moment to reflect before starting a task, a short walk after a meeting. Over time, these pauses accumulate, creating a rhythm of calm and clarity in your day.

Ready to try it? Start small: pick one transition each day and insert a pause. Notice how your mind clears, your stress drops, and your best ideas surface. In a world that never stops, the most powerful thing you can do is give yourself a minute to think.
Sources: A Minute to Think by Juliet Funt; LeaderChat interview; Next Big Idea Club