We’re all familiar with that stomach-turning feeling when we’ve been busy all day, look at the to-do list for the rest of the week and don’t see an end to the madness. Our brains have been conditioned to be constantly searching for the next task. cook, tidy, grab groceries. Even when we are doing ‘nothing’ we are distracted with our phones, online shopping or catching up on that latest season of a television series. Not to mention that being alone and overthinking can seem more daunting than the never-ending to-do list. We’re all tired in one way or another. Mentally, physically and emotionally, we all deserve a momentary pause.
Understanding that stress and pressure can have significant impacts on our bodies, is something in the back of our minds, but it’s time we start really paying attention to that concern. During the pandemic, many things in life came to a halt; time passed differently and we adjusted to having fewer physical responsibilities. We couldn’t go to restaurants, events got cancelled and there were fewer hangouts with friends. Although we were faced with different emotional hurdles, our bodies adjusted to a more sedentary lifestyle, meaning that leaving the house takes more energy than before.
A break doesn’t have to mean a vacation, rather it can be as small as taking off a day or an evening. The issue we often face is the guilt of the potential of how we can be spending our time. It’s almost as if we’re causing ourselves to have FOMO from the constant workload when feeling stressed out is our natural state of being. The desire to sit in bed and do nothing isn’t lazy, it is simply what our bodies need and expect now.
We have to accept that life keeps going and there will always be another issue coming out of nowhere. Coming to terms with that harsh reality means that we can forgive ourselves when we feel drained. Have a busy week with deadlines? Take an evening off anyways. Friends are going out after a busy week? Decline the offer and relax. We’re constantly taught to enforce boundaries with other people, but we’re rarely made aware of having boundaries with ourselves – which is arguably more difficult to enforce.
Giving ourselves time to do nothing is an indication of a growth mindset meaning that we’re letting ourselves take up space in the world without being tied to something or someone. We also must be confident enough in our spaces so that we don’t feel envious or threatened by those who are constantly hustling; they may need a break just as badly as we do. Leading with compassion can be the most productive skill we learn as we can let go of the feelings of selfishness or comparison.