Why it’s Absolutely Okay to do Nothing

Take a break: it’s crucial

I’ve posted many articles recently that goes into detail why you should still be productive during lockdown, but I’ve only briefly touched base on why it’s also important to give yourself some time to relax.

Many people have the impression that they need to work hard and introduce routines to have a better quality of life. Don’t get me wrong, a productive attitude will get you far, but what do you do when you run out of steam?

Sometimes we need to just stop what we’re doing to recharge our batteries. Need to book a few days off work to clear your head — do it! Can’t think of anything to write about— take a few days break. If you need time to yourself then do it for the sake of your mental health.

Doing absolutely nothing is a concept that many of us are not sure how to comprehend. The stacked dishes in the kitchen need your attention, the laundry needs to be put away, the book shelf hasn’t been dusted in a while — there’s always a task buried into your subconscious that is waiting to be tackled.

The idea of doing nothing is so foreign to most that even the concept of creating the correct headspace is difficult. With so many tasks that we give ourselves daily, sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough time in the day. One thing that I would suggest taking from this post is scheduling. Maybe lists are not your thing but if you need things to be done and you’re feeling a little burned out then prioritise what needs to be done.

Doing nothing doesn’t always mean, doing nothing. You will always be doing something. Whether it’s to read a book, take a long walk or to lunch out, doing nothing is usually meant to describe doing nothing that is useful.

Have you ever thought too much about something that it stopped your creativity from flourishing? When we fixate on a goal for too long it can stop us from reaching our desired outcome.

“I think when we don’t know what to do, it’s wise to do nothing. Sit down quietly, quiet our hearts and minds and breathe deeply.” — Maya Angelou

There are many reasons as to why so many celebrated authors incorporate daily long walks into their routines. When you cease to focus on a task, your brain is working overtime for you, thinking of new creative ways to complete tasks, without you even realising.

Not to bring to much science into my posts, but even neuroscientists believe that downtime is required to help with strengthening our neutral pathways. Every day where overwhelmed with data and are constantly making memories that needs to be stored away, something that can only be done affectively when your brain has enough time to process this.

It’s a Buddhists ideology that busy-ness is considered laziness. Being able to ignore text messages or emails that need to have a response can be difficult. The issue with being a person who gives themselves too many daily tasks is that you can become ignorant to tasks that are most important.

When you give yourself too many tasks, you don’t allow yourself any time to process the data you’ve collected.

“Take a break and give your soul what it needs.” — Audrey Kitchen

How many times have you thought to yourself, “I don’t have the time,” when your day just consisted of endless odd jobs? Did you really not have the time or did you give yourself too many unimportant tasks to complete.

Having a counterbalance life style makes us our better selves. Some people work themselves too hard, and some people have no idea how to be productive. It’s no surprise that the rates of stress, anxiety and even depression have increased due to the lack of counterbalance.

We need to learn to get over that feeling of guilt when we don’t want to do something. Somethings can wait until the day after. For some, that’s easier said than done. If you find it difficult to take a break from your thoughts, there are a few things that can help you take a mental break.

Here are a few ideas to help switch off. Go outside, take long walks and enjoy the fresh air. Unplug yourself from society by switching off your mobiles and adding an out of office message to your emails. Meditation also has some serious health benefits, but isn’t for everyone.

Another thing that will help with mental block is socialising. No matter how busy you have to be, it’s important to leave time out of your days for just friends and family. Having a chat with those who are able to lift your spirits will allow your energy to be raised.

For those who are serious about changing their lifestyles in pursuit of a stress-free one, then head on over to my recent post on why living a minimal lifestyle is so beneficial.

Of course doing something to help break these habits is still doing something. You shouldn’t have to pile on more things to your schedule. This is again, another reason why using a schedule is so important.

Not everyone likes noting down every step of their lives, but if you are new to doing nothing, then it’s much easier to prioritise your work load when you can see your days planned out in black and white.