The art of doing nothing

The art of doing nothing

Can you schedule some time doing absolutely nothing, or do you think every minute must count? Creating time for doing nothing is an art that every woman should develop. It is a fantastic way of self-care. Women are known for their multitasking lifestyles. If they are not working, they take care of their families, do house chores, or socialize on social networks. They have absolutely no time for resting their minds. If they are not performing any task, they feel guilty and think they owe the world an apology for doing nothing. 

Women end up overwhelming themselves and torturing their minds with insignificant things that can wait a while. 

Why should you have some time to do nothing? It allows you to refresh your mind, unwind, and re-energize. Relaxing increases the level of your creativity, and it takes care of your mental health. These two are essential for your productivity. 

As we take a look at how we can embrace the art of doing nothing, understand that you should not allow yourself to get all worked up about things that are not urgent. Yes! It is okay to do nothing for some time.  Having a routine for doing nothing without feeling guilty or bored is also okay. Allow yourself to be still without pressuring yourself to do anything.

How can you achieve this art of doing nothing?

Here are some tips on how you can master the art of doing nothing as a part of your self-care routine. 

  • Define what it means to do nothing for you. 

Is it sitting down on your couch? Does it mean listening to music? Is it taking a walk in your neighbourhood? Or is taking a long bath? Know what doing nothing will look like to you. Women have different definitions of doing nothing. 

  • Schedule time for doing nothing

This doesn’t sound right for many women because our schedules are always tight. Our time is never enough to accomplish our daily tasks. So, how can we schedule time for doing nothing? To handle this, ask yourself whether your body, mind, and soul need time to rest.  If yes, go ahead and schedule some time from your tight program. Pick a daily or weekly schedule depending on how you feel about yourself. Set aside 30 minutes a day or a week. 

  • Let your to-do-list be real

How many of us are guilty of having an unrealistic to-do list that we never fulfil even a single task in the list? For us women, things can get out of hand because most likely we do things that weren’t in our plan. And when we fail to accomplish our to-do list, we can’t forgive ourselves. It’s time to be real with ourselves. We don’t need those long to-do-list that condemns us at the end of the day. Let us re-prioritize our time and tasks to meet our expectations. When you still have your to-do list at the end of the day check whether you are procrastinating. 

  • Learn when to stretch yourself and when to rest

As women, we have times when we are productive and when our energies are low. Know whether you are active during morning hours or in the afternoons. During your active hours, schedule your to-do list. Take a break when you are less energetic. Don,t force yourself to perform that task when your body is saying no. 

Always remember that your body, mind, and soul need a break too. Embracing the art of doing nothing as a self-care routine will help you reduce stress, reduce anxiety and depression, improve concentration and energy, and give you a happy life. As a woman, this is the best gift you can give yourself.

I hope this article will encourage you to embrace doing nothing without condemning yourself. 

 

ubuntuwomen

Charity Nyambura is an advocate of women's wellness and a voice for gender equality. She graduated from Egerton University with a Degree in Gender and Development studies.

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