I have to say that, so far, I'm loving my "year of less." We are only in January and I had a noticeable positive shift as a result of it. Externally, not much has changed. I engage with similar activities as I have in the past year and my routines have not changed much. But, wait! The restlessness I would often feel when I wasn't busy, is no longer present. Specifically, there is no internal pressure to do something "important" or productive with my time. I am not exaggerating when I say that, for the first time after a very long time, I feel at peace doing nothing. Doing nothing was my nemesis and a biggest "waste" of time. But I am learning how to appreciate the joy of wasting time. In case you too, find yourself struggling to relax, want to be more at ease, and be an expert at wasting time without feeling guilty, here are a few reminders that helped me. As always, take what resonates and make it yours, and disregard the rest. 1. I get to do whatever I feel like with my time. No matter how 'unproductive' it may be considered by societal standards, if I enjoy myself, feel good, rested, or had fun, it is absolutely worth my time. 2. Question the idea of wasted time. There is no inherent value in any specific activity or way of being, there are just different things I get to do in different moments - none of them are "better" than the other. If there is something "better" to do, I would be doing it. 3. Question the pressure for productivity. Will my life really be better if I'm more productive? Is this coming from me or did I buy into this idea? Also, thinking about productivity is not productive. Pressuring myself to be productive, but wanting to relax, is also not productive. Doing something that feels good to my soul is always productive. 4. Address the fears associated with wasting time. Your mind will offer you all sorts of doomsday stories about what will happen if you stopped forcing yourself to be productive. In reality - absolutely nothing will change. Like me, you might notice yourself engaging in the same activities without the unnecessary pressure to do something more important. And less pressure means more available energy for the things you actually enjoy. 5. Throw out the idea of earning rest. If you're a perfectionist, overachiever, or like to punish yourself in similar ways, at first, this might be difficult to embody. Feeling like you need to be productive before resting or having to earn rest might be deeply engrained in you. Even the self-care practices we often hear about are suggested for the sake of being more productive later. No thanks! 6. What you value matters. Think about your current values (how you're actually living and what you prioritize) and desired values (how you want to be living and what you want to prioritize). Notice the discrepancy and think of using your time on priorities you actually desire. This helps you be more congruent with your real self, which leads to spending time on what you really value, which is never a waste of time. 7. Waste of time is full of benefits. When every moment of life is scheduled or filled with things to do, there's no space for the unexpected, spontaneous, and the creative to emerge. If you give yourself enough time to waste, eventually your instincts and preferences will lead you towards something exciting and unexpected. 8. You won't be rewarded for torturing yourself and not enjoying your life. Really consider: What if nothing is a waste of time? Let's talk about the incredible benefits of journaling and how it can transform your life.
So, grab a pen and a beautiful journal, and embark on this enriching journey of self-reflection and personal growth. Your future self will thank you! A big part of life is recognizing when it's time to let go of certain things so we can let in something new, more fulfilling to take its place. A journaling prompt I love (particularly when I feel weighed down) is "What do I want to let go of?" or "What is weighing me down?" Think about the things, beliefs, opinions, feelings, memories, regrets, experiences, people, habits, etc. that feel heavy, burdensome, and unnecessary. Let yourself write until nothing else comes to mind. Notice how you feel after putting those burdens down. Let yourself be in this lighter state, and from that place ask yourself, "What do I want to let in?" or "What do I want more of?" Let all the things, beliefs, opinions, feelings, memories, regrets, experiences, people, habits, you would love to let in come to you. You don't need to force answers, rather let them arise from this unburdened state you're in. Notice how it feels to let in all that goodness. Like anything in life, self-improvement can be used either as a tool or a weapon. Self-improvement is one of those things that we can very sneakily turn into a never ending ending cycle of "becoming better."
While I do believe that personal growth and change are inevitable parts of life, pursuing them from a place of shame and self-judgment becomes a game we can't win, and that's because we can't shame ourselves into feeling good about ourselves. Feeling good about ourselves comes from a sense of safety and acceptance, not judgment and shame. Check in with yourself: Does desire for self-improvement and personal growth come from a place of excitement and self-honoring, or am I pursuing it because I don't feel worthy & enough as I am? Wellbeing practice can be anything that supports a greater mental strength and helps you feel anchored to yourself. The most challenging thing about these practices is remembering to actually do them and to be present with the experience. These are not meant to feel like a chore or yet another thing on your to do list, so pick a practice that you will look forward to engaging in. Here are 5 simple ideas anyone can do daily. 1. Upon awaking, take a few minutes to get in touch with how you want to feel during the day. Remind yourself of that feeling throughout the day. 2. Listen to or read something uplifting and inspirational. Write down parts that resonate with you so you can keep revisiting them. 3. Spend time in nature/outdoors even if just for a few minutes. 4. Reflect on & celebrate a win from the past week/month. Think about what makes it so meaningful? 5. Detach from negative moods and thoughts by writing them down. You don't have to take them with you everywhere you go. |
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April 2024
AuthorSladja Redner |