Psychology Today: Doing Absolutely Nothing Has Mental Health Benefits
"Though it sounds counter-intuitive, I learned that letting go of everything has mental health benefits, even for a short time. As the lengthy pandemic finally recedes, it’s tempting to jump back into all kinds of activities long beyond reach. But you might want to consider some moments of doing absolutely nothing.
Addressing your anxiety will help you attempt the practice of doing nothing. When your worries precede an experience, it is known as anticipatory anxiety. It is likely to cause some physiological effects like dry mouth, sweating of forgetting, which is actually quite common when you need to perform, like on a test, while giving a talk, or engaging in a sports competition.
Keep in mind that embracing the practice of doing nothing may create some discomfort because it’s such an anathema to the way of life we’ve embraced for so many decades—unrelenting jobs big and small and the obligations that come with being a responsible member of society.
Here are some tactics you can use to decrease distress when you take on the counter-intuitive task of doing nothing:
- Remind yourself that you can stop what you’re doing (or not doing, as it were) and resume normal activity anytime you want—but wait a few minutes before you do to see if the discomfort passes.
- Stay with your plan and intention to do nothing but breathe slowly to calm down any jitters. Start with a slow and long out breath and then an in-breath as deeply as is comfortable. Continue this way of breathing for at least one minute. Mindful breathing is an effective strategy that can be applied to all anxiety symptoms.
- If your comfort level hasn’t improved, ground yourself in the here and now. Look around you at four objects that are familiar and pleasant. Nurturing any of your senses lends a sense of calmness.
Your thoughts and emotions are valuable sources of information to you, about you, in the process of doing nothing. While this is a process akin to meditating, the goal is to embrace and appreciate every moment of the experience rather than just breathing away thoughts.
The satisfying art of doing nothing is a practice that, once incorporated into your life, has proven mental and physical health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, relaxing skeletal muscles, and sharpening focus without investing in products or services and without any particular effort."
Read the full article here!
Reflection:
When was the last time you did nothing?
*I'm on holiday so I basically did nothing this week*
#MentalHealth #Mindfulness #Relaxation
