Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing – Winnie the pooh
It is important to work hard but it is equally
important to rest, relax and recover from hard work so that we are ready for it
the next day. All of us want to be productive, efficient and do more in less
time. Nothing wrong in that. However we need to understand that even machines
have a scheduled downtime and we need the same.
It was easier pre Covid to plan for downtime. When
WFH started it looked like a lot of downtime. Now we have got into a zone where
there is a lot of work and a loss of sense of weekdays and weekends. Earlier one
could “switch off” as there was office and home. Now homes have become offices
so the boundary has blurred. With many establishments still closed, activities
like dining out and movie watching which were downtime earlier are now out of
bounds. Vacations are out too. Being holed up at home has also increased screen
time in a big way. Hence downtime has become even more important.
Downtime is more relevant for a break for the
mind rather than the body. The body rejuvenates itself in sleep. It’s the mind
that needs some time off. A full-throttle lifestyle can chisel away at productivity,
creativity, and happiness, says Stew Friedman, Ph.D., the director of the
Wharton Work/Life Integration Project at the University of Pennsylvania and the
author of Leading the Life You Want. "The mind needs rest," he says. "Research
shows that after you take a mental time-out, you are better at creative
thinking and coming up with solutions and new ideas, and you feel more content."
Some ideas to get it done –
Non demanding tasks like gardening, doing dishes (WFH
special) allows your mind to relax
Yoga, walk in the park, jog, swim or any other mild physical
activity
Anything that you like to do – read, going to the movies, playing
a musical instrument or with your kids and pets, sketching, painting
There should be only one rule for the downtime – ignore your
phone. Checking social media does not count as downtime!!
It’s ironical – the busier we are, the more downtime we need.
As the rested fields give the best crops, the rested mind brings more
productivity. Do more by doing slightly less.
Sources –
https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/why-its-important-schedule-more-downtime-your-brain
No comments:
Post a Comment