The first wake-up call that you need a pause is the realization that work no longer brings joy, and productivity has begun to decline. For example, the author of this book used to work as a support manager at Google. In the beginning, her work seemed promising and inspiring, but later, it turned into a rut. The author stopped actively participating in conferences, and her performance deteriorated. She made every effort to improve her efficiency after talking to her supervisor. Unfortunately, her efforts were futile. It became clear that she needed a break to regain her stamina and focus on meaningful things.

Another argument favoring a pause is the prospects for enhancing our careers. When deciding between different opportunities, such as a new job or implementing your own project, take a moment to think. What do you really want to accomplish? Life is dynamic, and sometimes, we should stop and listen to ourselves. This can be related not only to career growth, but also to personal difficulties, caring for loved ones, or building a family. Significant life changes result in strong emotions. And it takes time to restore inner peace and balance.

An additional reason to pause can be the realization that widgets have become an intrinsic part of your routine and interfere with real contacts. If you notice spending so much time in the virtual world that you lose sight of what is happening around you, you may need to take a break. Give yourself a digital detox: return to real-life interaction with your friends, spend more time outdoors, or take up a new hobby.

Broken devices, external circumstances that throw us off track, or even unexpected changes in our jobs can be the Universe's attempts to make us reflect on things we do. By listening to our inner voice during pauses, we can discover our hidden desires and talents and find ways to realize them.