Thursday, January 29, 2015

Burned Out? Lose the Guilt and Take a Do-Nothing Day

Sit, rest, work
Susan J Meyerott, artist
'All know the way, but few actually walk it.'  Bodhidharma

Sit, Rest, Work

Sit, rest, work--what a simple, harmonious '3-legged stool' for balanced living. This is truly the answer to how to live a calm, thoughtful, composed life instead of one that always puts you in the overwhelmed mode. 

Yet when you think about it, how likely are you to balance your days in such a way that you are 'never weary' and 'living joyfully, without desire'? How often do you make yourself feel weary to the bone through driving yourself to accomplish at a non-stop, frenetic pace? 

Consider how you balanced your life in just the last three days:
  • Did you have a balance of Sit, Rest, Work or an imbalance of work, work, work? 
  • Did your life imbalance  leave you feeling weary, guilt-ridden, and wishing for a day off?

Balance Your Life with the 'Sit and Do Nothing' Exercise

The only way to get the most out of your life and the best out of yourself is to regularly give yourself time to recoup your energy through the 'sit and do nothing' exercise. 


Lose the guilt. Lose the expectations. Be unproductive. Give yourself time to breathe and relax instead. Strive to do nothing. Let your mind wander.

Begin with five minutes just to get you started--then work up to more 'do-nothing' time. 

In order to get stronger and more fit, your brain and your body need times of rest. It is during the rest periods your body and mind heal and grow stronger. If you never give yourself down time, your body and mind break down from overuse. So stop holding on to the belief you will accomplish more by keeping yourself in a constant state of stress. The path to your best self is paved with good doses of sitting and relaxing mixed in with the work.

So what are you waiting for? Go waste your time and enjoy doing nothing!

'Before complaining that you are a slave to another, be sure that you are not a slave to self. Look within: You will find there, perchance, slavish thoughts, slavish desires, and in your daily life and conduct slavish habits. Conquer these; cease to be a slave to self, and no man will have the power to enslave you.' James Allen


Sit, rest, work heart
Susan J Meyerott, artist

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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.


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1 comment:

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

"A calm, thoughtful, composed life" -- it even sounds better, doesn't it?! Some days being "unproductive" sounds terrible, but you clearly make the case for it. Always striving for balance.