Have you had a quiet moment lately where you did absolutely nothing?
No Netflix, no Instagram, no Tik Tok. I am talking about doing zilch – just 7 minutes of quality time in total solitude focusing on you and you alone! If like me, you have a high traffic, turbo-charged, super-active insomniac brain with no off switch, then the thought of taking 7 minutes a day to do nothing must sound like “absolute bollocks” as the Brits would say.
Anyway, here’s a quote from Tracy Chabala to get you back on topic.
Have faith that if you chill for a bit, the whole world won’t come crumbling down. Because the truth is we always have things we could be doing — if you wait until your to-do list or reading list is at zero, you’ll never find a moment to do nothing.
How is doing nothing even remotely possible? Are you for real?
You ask: How is it possible to spend 7 minutes doing nothing when “ugh, I am really busy…a lot on my plate right now”? Where will I find the time? Really! Don’t we reach for our smart phones first thing in the mornings and spend at least 15 minutes catching up on the news & social media?
Oh, and by the way, the smart phone is often the last thing we look at before drifting off into snoozeland at nights. An inseparable companion it has become to us! Yes, believe it or not, some of us (including me) do this routinely every morning and night without even giving it as much of a nanosecond of thought.
You ask: What’s the sense doing nothing when I have so much to do? Sounds counter-productive right? The sheer thought of spending a few moments in solace sounds frighteningly impossible!
Spending a few minutes doing nothing, sitting still, embracing the silence helps prevent you from falling apart. It gives you a chance to regain your perspective and to access a quiet part of your brain where your wisdom and common sense exists.
You ask: What will people think of me, if I take a moment to myself. Will I come across as being “idle”? Afterall, it’s the “in-thing” in corporate world and somewhat of a status symbol to say that you are busy and working all the time, even if you are not.
Our culture equates busyness with both high status and moral virtue… But buying into these myths can eat away at our sense of self and our overall quality of life. And it certainly can destroy our health, both mental and physical.
Here are some Practical Tips for You (tried and tested) and yes, it is possible to do nothing!
Here’s the thing, you’d be surprised at how moments of solitude can be hugely beneficial to our brains, bodies and overall well-being. Lately, I’ve started to meditate for about 7 minutes in the mornings after doing my exercise routine and though at first, the whole thought of “Monique” mediating seemed so ridiculously daunting and unnatural, I gradually began to experience the benefits.
There’s another way to increase your chances of encountering novel ideas and information and discerning weak signals: being quiet.
I once used to wonder why a very my good friend of mine would sometimes escape to these 4-day meditation retreats. But, I’m beginning to see the real reason behind it. As a CEO for an insurtech consultancy firm, she understands all too well that making time for structured periods of quietude not only reenergizes the brain but it is the perfect building block for even greater success. Gosh! I wish I got that earlier! But hey, it’s never too late, right!
The world is getting louder. But silence is still accessible—it just takes commitment and creativity to cultivate it.
Meditation is definitely not the easiest thing I’ve ever tried, especially in the beginning, as your mind can’t help but stray and concentration can be a bit of a challenge. But I took it in stages, first by trying 3 then 5 minutes and gradually increasing to 7 minutes. The trick that seems to work for me is to focus on one particular sound, activity, image or object for example breathing, counting or listening to meditation music without words/lyrics. My absolute favourite is the Indian Background Flute Music ,which I store in my YouTube library.
Has meditation made a difference to my life and can it in yours?
It certainly has and it has provided me with a wonderful way of:
- recharging my brain; hence boosting my concentration;
- giving me a fresh start to the day; ridding all the baggage, burnout and anxiety from the prior day;
- giving my over-active insomniac brain a little rest and a sense of calm and peace;
- instilling within me a feeling of confidence that no matter what challenges I am currently facing, I will pull through them;
- increasing my focus at work, which translates into a massive productivity boost;
- significantly reducing my stress levels;
- feeling more spiritually centered, balanced and emotionally connected with myself; and
- stimulating my imagination, creativity and innovative thinking.
When you’re finished doing nothing or sitting still, it will often seem like life is coming at you a little slower, which makes everything seem a whole lot easier and less stressful.
Don’t worry if you find mediation incredibly difficult at first. It takes practice and even the most experienced will tell you that they are still learning the art of mediation. Very few people can mediate for a prolonged period without their minds wandering. If this happens to you, don’t worry, take a deep breath, watch the thought drift out of your mind and return to your meditation.
You might have to do this several times in your seven minutes especially in the early days. What if you have to swallow, cough or scratch your nose? The answer is simple, “just do it” as Nike would say. Then gently, drift back into mediation.
Do I need to sit upright with legs-crossed and palms together like yoga gurus do? Absolutely not, just sit or lie in whatever posture that makes you comfortable and that comes naturally to you such as laying on your lounge or easy chair…just don’t fall asleep.
What if meditation isn't my thing?
For some of us mediation for 7 minutes might not be possible at first or it might simply not be your thing so here a few alternatives you could try:
- Getting out of the office for lunch instead of quickly chowing down your sandwich at your desk or a deli with your eyes fixated on your smartphone. Instead, how about a quiet lunch at the nearest park?
- Listening to music. Classical music or instrumentals are great. Just make sure there are no lyrics to sing along to, because the lyrics will start occupying your mind and you are no longer doing “nothing;”
- Going on a social media fast (yup, turn off your smart phone for a few minutes) and enjoy a few minutes of yoga or stretches in a quiet environment;
- Something as simple as walking and breathing. What I mean by this is timing your breaths to the count of your footsteps; For example: you count with each step and for the count of 4, you gradually breathe out and then for the next count of 4, you breathe in. Simply repeat it for as long you like;
- Lying in a hammock and enjoy the world around you. The rocking stimulates a feeling of calm and relaxation; or
- Sitting in a warm/hot tub while you inhale the calming scents from your favorite candles or bath bombs.
If we regard one of the major challenges today as stress, then anything that reduces stress in a nondestructive way is a good thing.
7 minutes a day isn’t much. All of us, without exception, waste far more than this on mindless activities every day so we can all find 7 minutes to be “mindful”. You never know, you might find yourself going beyond 7 minutes pretty soon.
If you are interested in reading more related articles, check out my recent post on 7 Simple & Effective Ways to Practise Self-Care
What do you do to rest your mind? Share it in the comments section below.
Author
Monique Abbott
Hi, I ’m Monique, founder and editor-in-chief of Yes2Yolo, travel addict, lover of home makeover projects among many other passions, including creative and inspirational writing to embolden us to live our best lives. At my core, I am a creative artistic being and I believe that creativity knows no end.
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I’ve explored over 60 countries with my husband Nick. Together we’ve partnered on some truly exciting projects such as creating and running a successful Airbnb business, chairing condo boards, purchasing fixer-uppers and renovating them from scratch on our own while balancing all of this with full-time jobs and family.
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While my personal passions are travel and home décor, I am, by profession, a lawyer with over 17 years experience.
I absolutely agree with this Monique!
Lovely!
Thanks for dropping us a comment Michelle. Really appreciate!
Great advice Monique! I am a work in progress with this.
Thanks for dropping us a line Elizabeth. Glad you’ve started the journey…