The Power of the Driveway Pause

This Self-Care Tip Comes to You from My Driveway.

Do you ever sit in your car before going into the house—lingering in your driveway for a few extra minutes of quiet? I mean, REALLY linger, like a cat basking in a warm, sunlit spot on a wintry afternoon.

Some days, my car in the driveway is my second home office, where I take calls, pay bills, and catch up on emails. I’ve even zoomed from my driveway. On other days, it's my meditation chair. I also use it to catch up on social media, take a Wordle break, or chat with a friend.

I started wondering why. It's not like I don't want to be home. I love my home and family. It's true - I have the task of making dinner, so this brief respite provides a buffer before going inside. I hadn't given it much thought until one such afternoon when I found myself there chatting with my friend, Diana. I shared, "Well, I've sat in the driveway long enough. I should probably head in now." To which she gleefully exclaimed, "I'm in my driveway, too! Don't you love just sitting in the driveway?"

So, it's a thing? I'm not alone in this?

Perhaps there's a tangible self-care benefit to taking a few minutes to sit in the car before heading inside. With my car's massaging seats and seat warmer, it is a freakin’ oasis in blustery March. Who wouldn't want to linger a bit longer before facing the task of making dinner?

I've been considering this and realized that sitting in the car is my first opportunity to BE after working and driving all day. It's the pause before moving on to the next segment of my day. It's where I can ask myself, what can I do from my comfy, massaging seat before jumping into the next activity? Sometimes, that means just taking a breather. Other days, it may be catching up on what I couldn't get to.  

When my kids were really young, I was a stay-at-home mom. Back then, the shower I took during naptime was my refuge. I would linger in there, too. It was akin to putting my oxygen mask on before tending to others.

If you commute, it could be that precious, designated time for reading or listening to a book or music on the train or bus, or even stealing a quick nap. Whatever the case, it's the significance of this pause that I find truly valuable, especially if we utilize it to transition to the next segment of our day in the best way possible.

Recently, I did a guided meditation that focused on showing up as your highest and best self. Well, this pause allows me to show up for my family and home as my highest and best self. After my little driveway refuge and rendezvous with Wordle, I feel more replenished.  If I just ran into the house, I would likely bring my tired, possibly overwhelmed self, along with my unpaid bills. Chances are my family may want to send me back to the driveway.

So I’ll leave you with this:

What is one small way you can create a pause between what you’re leaving—and what you’re stepping into?

Because sometimes, it’s not about doing more.

It’s about giving yourself a moment to arrive… differently.