Time outs – Give yourself a break

When I was younger, you only got three time outs in a game. In recent years many modifications have been made to the regulations of basketball timeouts. In high school basketball, each team is allowed three 60-second timeouts and two 30-second timeouts. In NCAA college basketball, each team has one 60-second timeout and three 30-second timeouts (unless the game is not televised, then there are 75-second timeouts). The NBA allots each team one 20-second timeout per half and six 60-second timeouts per game. That is A LOT of timeouts, but those timeouts are nothing compared to the ones available to you.

Why does one need a timeout? Timeouts are the answers to so many of our daily travails and a healthy practice to begin. Teams use timeouts to regroup or make a game plan. You should do the same. Use your timeout to breathe, think, pray, meditate, or get advice. Take a step back from the action for a minute to find the best means of overcoming your opponent.

If you find yourself in a situation where you have to make a huge, impactful choice, take a timeout. Use that quiet time to weigh the elements of the decision. It will make your final choice so much easier to accept and explain to all those involved. If it is stress coming at you from all aspects of your life, take a timeout. Stop, breathe, pray, be still. Give your body, mind, and heart a chance to regroup and face all those daunting tasks with peace and focus.

If things are going great, birds are singing, the sun is shining, your hair is cooperating, whatever it is that could be great is, take a timeout. Express gratitude in your thoughts and words for all that is right, and document in your mind and heart just how terrific it feels to be you. Those positive moments will result in the need for fewer frustration timeouts and more celebrations of success for the awesomeness that is you.

By: Melanie A. Peters