Doing Nothing? Good!

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

We are always on the run. My sister-in-law, for example, a mother of two and a new homeowner works 45 hours a week, takes care of an active six going on seven year old and ten-month old as well as trying to finish her bachelor's degree. She's always on the go and she keeps trying to squeeze her fitness schedule into this day long run fest - but part of fitness is taking good care of yourself and that can mean instead of being on the go, you take time to take things slow.

Appreciate the Importance of Doing Nothing

I'm a huge fan of the idea of taking a few hours here and there where I am a not running, walking or doing chore. It can be great to kick back on the porch, feet up and enjoy a pretty day while reading a book. It's mental and physical downtime that you not only crave, but that you need. You need it most when you are having trouble sleeping at night because you have so much to do and you can't seem to squeeze enough activity into your already jam packed day.

Now before you shake your head and tell me that, nice as it sounds, there's no way you can possibly take time to do nothing when you already have so much to do. That's when you need to do nothing more than any other time. Even if it's only for a couple of hours, you desperately need that time to recover your equilibrium in order to avoid burn out. Because burn out helps no one, least of all you and your family.

The statistics of stress-related disorders are staggering. According to the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard University, between 60% and 90% of all medical office visits in the United States are for stress-related disorders.

When you don't take time for yourself, your body will begin to shut down or you will get ill - and your body will make the time for you. The worst illnesses I have ever had were when I didn't slow down and take the time. It may sound difficult, but it can be as easy as just taking an hour a day or a couple of hours on the weekend.

You need it - and your body definitely needs it.

How do you take some time to slow down?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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