In a typical workday, there’s a large amount of asynchronous communication. You can spend an entire afternoon in a rabbit hole of email!

Because communication is so frequent, it’s a good place to pause. (Remember: Regularity is the most important piece of mindfulness practice.)

After you compose an email, take a 3-breath pause.

Reread your message from the receiver’s point of view.

How will they construe your words?

Perhaps you can change your tone, focus your content, or simplify the information.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Make appropriate edits. And send the message with a clear mind and heart.

Though it would be great to do this with every email, it’s more realistic to pause with the most important missives. Even doing this once a day is a win!

You can extend this exercise to texts and DMs, too. Whenever you remember, pause.

Reread through the other person’s eyes. Widen your perspective. Choose honest, clear, and kind words.