We are often uncomfortable with doing nothing: having nowhere to be, no one to talk to, and nothing to stimulate our attention. It can be uncomfortable to set everything aside, rest, and not be “busy.” Why is this?

I believe that there are many factors that contribute to this tendency. One is that western culture tells us that working long hours and having a full schedule is “successful” and expected. If you are doing nothing, you are not being productive or efficient.

This pattern of thinking is responsible for the burnout so many people experience.

How to Rest Even When Life Gets Busy:

1. 🏔️ Be in Nature

Prioritize getting outside even if is inconvenient. Research shows that it has tremendous benefits including improved brain health, stress reduction, and increased overall happiness.

Here are some ideas of how to get outside:

• Walk outdoors when you have a phone call

• Take a bike ride near where you live

• Find a local botanical garden and bring a book to read

• Locate some walking paths or greenways near you

• Take your family or friends to a park and enjoy each other’s company

• Watch a Sunset

2. 📱 Take a Media Fast

Instead of reaching for the TV remote in the evenings, pick up a good book. The global screen time average for 2023 is a whopping 6 hours and 58 minutes per day.

What steps can you take to reduce your screen usage and reclaim your time?

• Take the Phone Charger Challenge

• Choose one day a week that you don’t consume any media for entertainment

• To avoid distractions, turn on do not disturb when you are wanting to focus

• Instead of using your phone as a shield to avoid talking to people you don’t know, put it in your pocket and meet someone new.

3. ⌛️ Don’t Fill Every Minute

As Americans our tendency is to over-allocate our time often at the expense of sleep, relationships, and overall wellbeing. 

What are some solutions?

• Make small breaks in your day instead of scheduling everything you need to do back to back.

• Create a personal policy that after a certain time of day you end all work.

• Have a daily wind down practice before heading to bed.

Cool Photo of the Week:

Final Thoughts

What does resting look like for you? What things would you add that help you rest? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Enjoy this: Please tell a friend about it.

Rock on,

Camden