If you naturally have a high-energy temperament and are always keeping your mind and body busy, you may view the concept of downtime as being unproductive and boring.
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However, it may surprise you to learn that everyone, even people who thrive on constant activity, needs periods of relaxation in order to rejuvenate and prepare for continued mental and physical health going forward.
Take some downtime in life on a regular basis, and you can not only prevent the negative effects of overworking yourself, but also find opportunities to get in touch with yourself with a peaceful mindset, thereby fostering personal growth. Discover 10 reasons to engage in downtime so that your brain and body can experience great upsides.
1. Give Your Mind The Clarity To Welcome New Ideas
When your mind is constantly running, jumping from one thought to the next as you go about your day, it becomes difficult to bring yourself out of a complacent mode in regard to exploring ideas.
Opening your mind to new possibilities and approaches requires downtime so that you can stop thinking on “autopilot” and welcome a slower-paced mental process. Try to step away from your busy schedule for at least 10 or 15 minutes daily, and use this time to let your mind drift into areas where it normally does not get the opportunity to venture.
2. Focus On Low-Level Yet Persistent Life Issues
If you are like most people, you can relate to the experience of having a continuous “low-level” train of thought that takes a backseat to thoughts pertaining to your immediate future.
For example, you may be consciously and primarily focused on cleaning your household, tending to your children or doing your job in the here and now while a less pressing life issue, such as a desire to fulfill a passion, lurks in the depths of your mind. Use your downtime to focus solely on these types of thoughts so that they can get ample attention.
3. Provide Your Body With Rest And Restored Health
The phenomenon of “burnout” is a very real thing, and when you do not make relaxation a priority in your life, you run the risk of wearing down both your body and your mind and inviting the possibility of illness, stress and fatigue.
Set a goal to fit some downtime into your routine, and then be sure to use at least part of this time to put your feet up, take some deep breaths and close your eyes. Mental and physical rest keeps you healthy and productive.
4. Indulge In A Purely Enjoyable Pastime
People who are not intrinsically inclined to enjoy downtime are often more open to the idea when it involves an environment or activity that correlates to a favorite interest or hobby.
If you are an animal lover, use your allotted period of mental relaxation to walk your dog, pet your cat or watch your fish swim peacefully in their aquarium or pond. Eat your favorite food if you like culinary delights, or create some colorful doodles if you are an artist at heart.
5. Escape From An Overload Of Information
This extremely fast-paced world can easily saturate your mind with an overload of information, whether it comes from browsing the Internet, watching television, multi-tasking at work and at home or juggling the conversations of your friends and family members.
Try to process too much external stimuli on a steady basis and you are likely to find yourself in dire need of a mental battery recharge. Alleviate a meltdown from information bombardment by scheduling downtime to give your mind an escape.
6. Maximize The Various Ways In Which Your Brain Functions
The various processing centers in your brain are constantly working to optimize your concentration, memory function, ability to decode information and many more important mental skills. Help your mind to operate at maximum capacity by letting yourself take breaks from active thinking and analyzing from time to time.
A well-rested brain is a happy brain, so provide it with downtime and relaxation in order to ensure that your mental functioning remains sharp, engaged and highly productive on an overall basis.
7. Enable Yourself To Resume Daily Tasks Productively
Contrary to the mistaken belief that downtime is a waste of precious minutes and hours in which you could be getting work done, the act of taking a hiatus from active tasks and letting your thoughts drift peacefully for a short period is greatly beneficial to your capacity for accomplishing goals.
Give yourself permission to take some downtime, and you will be pleased to find that when you resume your typical routine, your productivity levels are likely to be better than before thanks to a rested and balanced mental state.
8. Catch Up On Sleep That You Might Not Know You Needed
Sometimes, “down” periods can be so physically and mentally comforting that you find yourself easily falling asleep and enjoying a brief nap in the middle of the day.
Provided that you keep an alarm set in order to avoid oversleeping and missing important engagements, these short respites can be an ideal way for you to catch up on sleep that you may be lacking at night. Indulge in some sleep during your downtime, and emerge from your “power nap” energized and ready to work.
9. Engage In Mental Well-Being Exercises Such As Meditation
If you are interested in becoming more fully in touch with your existence and embarking on a path of mindfulness and mental enlightenment, making room for downtime offers you an excellent opportunity to meditate.
Allow thoughts to pass through your mind without judgment as you spend time away from the world at large, and you can not only benefit from the soothing nature of downtime, but also the authentic state of well-being that meditation fosters.
10. Connect Freely With Yourself Or With Others
Downtime is a great means of spending quality time with yourself, but if you have a more extroverted than introverted nature, use the opportunity to enjoy the company of others as you relax. Spend your downtime with a friend or two, and fulfill your zest for social interaction as well as your need for a tranquil atmosphere.
Keep in mind that downtime can exist in many forms, and the ways in which others practice it may not be the best match for your individual personality.
Some people reap the optimal benefits of downtime while sitting in a low-lit, quiet room, while others find that their brains relax most while taking a peaceful walk, sitting in the sunshine with a cup of coffee or reading a lighthearted story.
Experiment with different environments while you are on the journey to figuring out how downtime can improve your overall health and well-being. If you find that a certain scenario cannot allow you to relax your mind, approach another with a positive outlook.
