Today’s Shake Up item was “set alarm 10 minutes early and do nothing.”
I fill every moment of my day with something. I must always be productive. There must be a purpose for every minute. Idleness is a waste. So, the thought and the doing of ‘nothing’ is/was a bit stressful.
My alarm went off 10 minutes earlier than usual. I fed my cat, made a cup of coffee, set the alarm to sound in 10 minutes then sat in a chair and looked out the window. Now you might argue that drinking coffee - looking out the window is doing something, but I’m just going to ignore that. I sat in a chair. I did not make any plans. I did not strategize anything. I let my thoughts meander. I observed how the light in the sky changed minute by minute. I spotted a couple of plane lights ascending. The alarm sounded. I proceeded with the day’s routine.
I was done all my preparations for the day 15 minutes early! I used the extra time to stop at the bank, buy (another) coffee. I arrived at my day job 10 minutes early, which is the time I usually arrive. The time continued to be available to me for the remainder of the day. I had time to exercise and have a short rest on my lunch break. I finished all my ‘to do’s’ at work 30 minutes early and actually felt happier doing it. I may just have to do this every day!
I am forever touting the idea of making space for something creative to develop. So what about making space in time for more well, time? Using it to do nothing seems counter to that but mysteriously it worked out to actually create more time!
Every wisdom tradition teaches some form of stillness, silence and making space as a way to inner and outer peace and joy. Also doing nothing is a great reminder that we are not machines. We need ‘nothing’ time in order to re-charge.
Tomorrow’s item: ‘Strike up Random Conversation with Stranger.’
Talking to the coffee barista or sales clerks don’t count. I mean talking to strangers in a line up – people I will not likely meet again.
I’m not very shy, but starting a conversation cold will definitely be a stretch for me. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Anyone following along?
How did/are you doing?
I fill every moment of my day with something. I must always be productive. There must be a purpose for every minute. Idleness is a waste. So, the thought and the doing of ‘nothing’ is/was a bit stressful.
My alarm went off 10 minutes earlier than usual. I fed my cat, made a cup of coffee, set the alarm to sound in 10 minutes then sat in a chair and looked out the window. Now you might argue that drinking coffee - looking out the window is doing something, but I’m just going to ignore that. I sat in a chair. I did not make any plans. I did not strategize anything. I let my thoughts meander. I observed how the light in the sky changed minute by minute. I spotted a couple of plane lights ascending. The alarm sounded. I proceeded with the day’s routine.
I was done all my preparations for the day 15 minutes early! I used the extra time to stop at the bank, buy (another) coffee. I arrived at my day job 10 minutes early, which is the time I usually arrive. The time continued to be available to me for the remainder of the day. I had time to exercise and have a short rest on my lunch break. I finished all my ‘to do’s’ at work 30 minutes early and actually felt happier doing it. I may just have to do this every day!
I am forever touting the idea of making space for something creative to develop. So what about making space in time for more well, time? Using it to do nothing seems counter to that but mysteriously it worked out to actually create more time!
Every wisdom tradition teaches some form of stillness, silence and making space as a way to inner and outer peace and joy. Also doing nothing is a great reminder that we are not machines. We need ‘nothing’ time in order to re-charge.
Tomorrow’s item: ‘Strike up Random Conversation with Stranger.’
Talking to the coffee barista or sales clerks don’t count. I mean talking to strangers in a line up – people I will not likely meet again.
I’m not very shy, but starting a conversation cold will definitely be a stretch for me. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Anyone following along?
How did/are you doing?
RSS Feed
