Permission to do nothing

Oh good, you opened it. Phew. Lol

And I’m glad you did because I’ve got another dose of mindset magic for you. 

Every week I like to sprinkle a little inspiration into your Monday morning that will help you take action in designing your dream life.

Today, I’m going to ask you not to take action.

I know, I’m full of contradictions. But as you’re aware, a truly happy and fulfilled life is about balance.

In today’s hustle culture, we’re all programmed to think if we’re not constantly chasing the next goal or ticking off the next item on our never-ending to-do lists, we’re not giving ourselves fully to our dreams or living up to our potential. 

And you know what happens when you keep pushing?

Burnout!

What if I told you the secret to moving forward faster was actually to slow down? Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is absolutely nothing.

Let me explain… 

Why Doing Nothing is Actually Doing Something

Taking time for rest and relaxation enhances brain function. Studies have proven (inarguably!) that making time to slow down increases creativity, improves memory function, and helps you make better decisions.

According to research from the National Institutes of Health, your brain uses rest periods to consolidate memories and practice the skills you learned while active. It essentially “recharges” itself, preparing for more complex problem-solving and higher productivity.

Years ago, it was seen as an attribute if you could multi-task. But it’s now proven that multitasking can decrease productivity by up to 40% while also increasing stress, leading to burnout and reduced overall efficiency. 

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t be intentional about creating the life you want, but I really need you to understand that rest is not the opposite of productivity. Busyness, which is often equated with success, is not a measurement of achievement.

What good is success if you’ve worked your mental and physical health into the ground to get it?

The Power of Pausing

Mindful pauses can lead to breakthroughs and new perspectives. Allowing yourself to pause and step back from your busy life can bring clarity to complex situations, renew your motivation, and help you reconnect with yourself on a deeper level. 

Here’s the why and how of allowing yourself to do nothing so you can prime yourself for faster success…

• Rest as a Productivity Tool: Taking regular breaks will make you more productive. A study by DeskTime found that the most productive people work for 52 minutes and then take a 17-minute break.
  
  These short breaks allow your brain to reset, leading to more efficient and high-quality work. If you’re feeling stuck or drained, sometimes the best thing you can do is step away and give your brain a break. Journal, take a walk, listen to some relaxing music, or just sit in undisturbed silence for a few minutes. Make your mental health a priority and you’ll notice how much happier you’ll be at work.
• Listen to Your Body: Your body is constantly giving you signals about when it needs a break. Physical symptoms like fatigue, tension, and headaches are often the first to appear. But there are also mental and emotional signs like difficulty concentrating, mood swings, or feelings of overwhelm.
  
  These symptoms are your body’s way of saying, “It’s time to slow down,” Listening to these cues can prevent you from reaching burnout. Trying to work through burnout feels like it takes twice as much energy to get things done compared to when you’re motivated and enjoying what you’re doing. Take a little staycation at home. A few days away from work or from trying to power through your at-home responsibilities can work wonders for your motivation levels.
• Mindfulness in Rest: Rest isn’t just about physical stillness. It’s also about reaching a state of mental relaxation. This is where mindfulness techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or being present can work in your favor.
  
  Not all rest is created equal. Active rest includes activities that rejuvenate your mind and body. This would be things like meditation, walking, or participating in creative hobbies. Then there’s passive rest, like watching TV or scrolling through social media. Both have their place, but active rest is more refreshing and beneficial in the long run. Make time for more active rest. Engage the creative side of your brain and give your overworked logical side a break once in a while.
• Let Go of The Guilt: Do you ever get that feeling of guilt when you don’t feel like you’re being productive? That’s because you don’t have the right mindset about what doing nothing actually is. Doing nothing is you being productive. Rest is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.
  
  By shifting your mindset to see rest as an essential part of your routine, you allow yourself to let go of the guilt and see that what you’re doing for your mind and body is helping you work harder and with more intention. When you allow yourself to rest, you come back stronger and more focused. Make time to take an afternoon walk and disconnect from your office life, even if only for 15 minutes. You don’t just deserve a mental break, you need it.

When you give yourself permission to slow down, you’re not losing time, you’re gaining energy, clarity, and creativity. 

Your mind and body are your greatest assets. If you don’t keep them both healthy, you’re not just slowing yourself down, you’re creating a wider gap between where you are now and the life you want to have.

Action Step

This week, let’s focus on making rest an intentional part of our routine.

1. Schedule a Break: Take a look at your daily schedule and see where you can make room for at least one intentional break every day this week. Even better if you can make this time in the middle of your day. Make this break non-negotiable. Look at it as just as important as any deadlines you have at work. This week, you’re going to put yourself first.
2. Reconnect with Joy: Remember that hobby you picked up but never committed to? It’s time to dig it up. If painting brings you joy, treat yourself to a nice set of brushes on the condition you use them at least once this week. Even if you’re not good at it yet, take joy in creating the most beautiful stick figures the world has ever seen. This is about active rest and connecting with your creative side.
3. Reflect and Record: How did you feel after you took these mini mental breaks? Make time to write down how you felt after you made time for yourself.  Did you feel more refreshed? Did it make you feel happier to enjoy life outside of obsessing about your future? Living to work is a one-way ticket to misery town. Your goals will still be there even if you do nothing for a little while. You’ll probably find you’ll even achieve them faster if you give yourself the time to recharge.

This week is about the now. It doesn’t always have to be about your future, and certainly not about your past. Your brain has earned a bit of rest.

Give yourself permission to take that occasional afternoon nap when the kids are at school (gasp!), or to tell your boss you need an extension on that non-essential deadline that has you working 60 hours a week. 

Put yourself first by leaning into the freedom of doing absolutely zilch! Your brain will repay you by working double time when it’s time to reengage.

Have fun this week… doing nothing.  🙂