Why a pause is a good thing

I've had a whole summer in my one-week break

Sunset at Dogwatch Café, Stonington, CT.

For more than a week, my job at the restaurant has been on what we’ll call a “pause.” No 4 p.m. shift after long days on the computer. No chaotic, joyful table and coworker interactions. No familiar rhythm that has defined my entire summer.

It feels odd not to be serving tables at least four days a week. Aside from a few weekends, I haven’t really taken time off. But it’s given me a rare pause – and it’s been surprisingly needed.

Instead of aimlessly filling time, I’ve found myself leaning into things that feel meaningful right now.

I’m applying with intention

Job applications in this market can feel like running on a treadmill – expending energy but staying in the same spot.

For months, I’ve cycled through phases – motivated and hopeful, then discouraged, then applying recklessly, then disappointed. Slamming the “apply” button was not the answer. Scheduling calls to the point of social exhaustion was not the answer. Giving up entirely definitely wasn’t the answer.

But part of the answer may have been a pause.

Because now I’ve entered a new stage: understanding. I understand that I am one of many new grads searching. That “doing everything right” won’t necessarily make it come true right away. That patience with myself and the process is something I’m still learning. And most important: I now know what I want to do and why it’s worth waiting for the right opportunity to click.

That doesn’t mean I’m zen all the time. I don’t feel this level of rationality and patience on most days. I get frustrated by ghosting, unpaid assignments, and silence after hours of work. But I’m taking it on with more perspective now.

I’m letting myself take breaks and enjoy my life

One of my college roommates, Londyn, came to visit. What was supposed to be a five-day trip stretched into eight, and for the first time since graduating – and since my sister left for abroad – I felt the familiar feeling of having a roommate again (or not just my parents).

Londyn & I!

We caught up, went to the beach, ate too much ice cream, and made a trip to Boston to see our other roommate. At one point, I told her, and I’ll say it now, even louder: I feel like I just fit my entire summer into one week. Before this, I hadn’t given myself a true break from restaurant shifts, applications, or stress.

Turns out, rest isn’t a waste of time. It’s part of refueling so I can keep moving forward.

I’m writing what matters to me

I’ve had the time to reflect on what I want to write – not just for a job, but for myself.

I drafted my second personal essay for Business Insider (stay tuned!) about a topic that is very close to my heart. I pitched stories I care about. I even reported on a cuisine I know nothing about and have never tried, which pushed me completely outside of my comfort zone.

Writing has always been how I process, but this pause reminded me: it’s how I grow and learn. It’s how I end up back here, typing away.

I thought that too much time without a shift serving would mean lost income, lost structure, and my spiral into insanity. Instead, I found clarity, peace, and momentum in the places that matter most.

Soon, life will get busy again. But for right now, I’m grateful for the pause. Sometimes slowing down is exactly what you need to figure out where you’re going next.