How’s life? ‘Hectic!’, ‘Crazy busy!’. There is always so much to do and absolutely no time to waste. Yes, ‘waste’. So we prioritize and re-prioritize. Finish some and then move onto others. And keep updating the to-do list, which is never clear. As many tasks we cut out the more keeps adding in. Any time spent not doing anything is wasted time. Sitting idle is waste especially when you have this never-ending to-do list.
And obviously there is anxiety, stress, burnout and what not! All because we don’t know when to take a pause. We feel out of focus, we feel saturated, we feel helpless seeing our efficiency dropping. We know we need to relax but we can’t. It feels wrong. Our culture values hard work. It inspires us to push our limits and explore our strengths.
But does that mean you can’t slow down and take a step back? Especially when deep inside you know that’s what you need. You need to take a pause. And you MUST.
Shun the urge of being productive 24×7
Productivity is not at all a bad thing. In fact it is considered essential for success. High achievers are productive; they know exactly how to make out the most of their time and abilities. Productivity is a sign of being valuable. That’s why we are obliged to do something productive all the time. Even outside of working hours, this urge follows us. We want to always do something that counts. Whether it’s working out or reading or listening to music or watching movie. It has to be something meaningful, something that yields results.
Before trying to empty your mind; you first need to get rid of this compulsion of being productive. You have 24 hours in a day and it’s absolutely fine to spend 10 minutes of those in being just idle. Your creative mind deserves this power nap. So don’t hesitate in stealing these few minutes; that are actually going to unleash the real power of you mind.
Shun the guilt of not doing anything
Our ‘all work no play’ society admires only those who are busy or precisely overworked. Because they are the only ones who are actually making something out of their life. They are WORTHY. Because we have been schooled to link our worthiness with the amount of responsibilities we can handle. Anyone who is not working all the time is termed as ‘lazy’. You aren’t doing ‘enough‘ unless you are stressed. And that is why doing nothing make us feel guilty.
Please don’t glorify being workaholic. Don’t normalise spending weekends in office. There is nothing fancy in burning yourself out in work. Even machines need a break; they can’t run forever. They also need regular service. And so does your mind. It’s no shame in admitting that you are Tired and need to rest. It’s no pride in continuing working when your brain is giving up. So instead of guilt, feel honored in taking care of your mental health. Choose to relax.
Force yourself to relax
For those who have forgotten to take a chill pill, relaxation has to be planned. Because if you don’t plan it; you would be force to, once your body gives up and your mind surrenders. So don’t hesitate in creating a blank space in your to-do list. It doesn’t matter what form your idle time takes, as far your are in your present. What matter is complete awareness of your surrounding. What matters is that you are NOT thinking about anything.
Here’s how to do Nothing
First of all, book a slot for yourself. Since our mind is hardwired to think all the time; doing nothing doesn’t come naturally. It requires conscious efforts. So mark your calendar and set an alarm to do nothing. It will take sometime to bring it in habit.
Disconnect. This is the time when you should be away from all distractions. So put your beloved smartphone on silent mode and keep it in your closet. Next, choose a place and time where for at least ten minutes no one would bother you or come looking for you. It’s your time so find solace.
Start small. Firstly with just a few minutes; such that they are barely noticeable in your calendar. Once you are able to be consistent with it, then try to increase them gradually. For as long as you wish and as long as you need.
A relaxed mind is more focussed and hence more productive. And the only way to relax your mind is to think about nothing. Just sit down or lie down and let your mind have some rest.
"I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in the silence, and the truth comes to me." - Albert Einstein