Take time to do nothing

All work and no play causes anxiety, depression, heart disease, ulcers, chronic fatigue, constant headaches and even obesity, writes Dr MARGA BOYANI

When was the last time you spent just part of a day doing absolutely nothing?

The majority of us are on a constant run with jobs to do, children to take care of, homes to run and evening lectures to attend. If there’s any time left, we feel we should use it trying to improve our homes, our incomes, our bodies or minds.

We feel taking time out for ourselves is a deadly sin. Yet the truth is that we are doing ourselves no favours by slaving away.

Most of us find it hard to spend time just relaxing because it’s hard to switch off. We’re on a permanent treadmill with one speed: High. There’s always something that needs doing and the thought that you’re not doing it makes you tense. You feel that if you spend time just pleasing yourself, you will pay for it later.

However, this constant grind is self-defeating. Each of us needs to master the art of ‘idleness’. Allowing ourselves time for pleasure and relaxation is good. A bit of slothfulness now and then should be written into everybody’s life because it has positive health benefits. It boosts our immune systems, recharges our batteries, enables us to sleep better and makes us more effective as employees, parents and friends. Taking time out gives us the chance to plan, to enjoy the simple things around us and to be a better person. Sheer unadulterated ‘laziness’ is good for you. Call it ‘healing time’.

You may feel terrible at first lying on the sofa watching a movie when you have this deadline to meet but you will be a happier person and it has a knock-on effect on those around you.

Here are a few ideas:

• Read more and take time to pamper yourself. When the children are in bed, take time to take a nice long warm bath.

• Let go of the stuff that keeps you racing around and stop obsessing; not everything has to be in its place.

• Having guests and no time to clean the house? Turn off the lights and use scented candles. No one will notice. If you have run out of time to make a meal for your visitors, order a take-out, sprinkle fresh herbs on it and serve it with a green salad and every one will think the meal was homemade.

• Don’t change your children’s uniform every day. Small children don’t smell and who is going to know that they wore the same shirt?

• Try a ‘hang out to dry and fold’ policy with the washing because it works just as well. Life is too short for ironing bed sheets and boxer shorts every day.

Relaxation

• Get loose in the shower and don’t hurry it. That steamy heat warms up muscles, improves blood flow and relaxes you.

• Have a super-powered lunch hour: Three days a week run errands during lunch, pay your bills, do your house shopping and then two days a week, listen to music or take a walk.

• Incorporate exercise into your every day life in ways you enjoy. Take the stairs instead of the lift or park your car several blocks away from the office and walk.

• Spend more time in the sack and your energy levels will soar and efficiency will improve.

• Go for a long walk instead of lifting weights in the gym. You won’t win a prize or be remembered for your muscle tone or the fact that you worked over the weekend and it certainly won’t put a smile on your face.

• Your teeth won’t fall out if you fail to brush them before you go to bed once in a while and your face won’t disintegrate if you sleep with your make up on.

• Jot down your top five priorities for the next few months. This helps clarify what’s important when things get hectic. Once your priorities are clear, learn to say no with grace. This is key to protecting your free time.

• Organise your life and don’t sweat the small stuff. Stop being a control freak and delegate to your juniors because that’s what they’re there for.

So next time you have an hour you’re tempted to fill with activity, fight the impulse. You need time to feel like a human being rather than a human doing.