Do you have a hard time doing nothing? I totally do, but it’s something that really gives us a chance to rejuvenate. Relaxation is good; I think that’s something that we tend to forget here in the US, where productivity is valued above most states of being.
Yesterday was Sunday, and as I was milling about the house, Mike looked at me and said, “It’s so against my nature to sit around on a Sunday.”
I laughed. It was harder for me than for him to do it yesterday (although that’s not always the case). I’d been to the hardware store for air conditioner filters and the grocery store already, and he was saying this to me as I was chopping veggies for dinner later. Yes, it was certainly hard.
But then he said something that I think we should all take to heart: “I pushed it this week. I need to remind myself that it’s okay to do nothing every once in a while.”
We run around like crazy during the week, getting to all the stuff on our densely packed to do list. We NEED to sit around now and again to feel better. Don’t believe me? Here’s some scientific evidence that might change your mind:
We Can Make Up Sleep Deficits
Isn’t that cool? According to Harvard Medical School, we can actually make up for lost sleep on the weekends. Although it’s certainly not the same thing as getting a week of good nights’ sleep, adding a few extra sleep hours onto the weekend can keep you even-keeled.
So why is sleep so important? According to a study by the University of Chicago, test subjects who voluntarily kept their sleep to four hours a night for six consecutive nights experienced higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, higher blood pressure, and fewer antibodies for certain diseases. With a sleep deficit, not only does your body’s ability to function properly decrease, but you start cutting off your ability for higher mental processing with the elevated stress hormones. Not to mention that cortisol-related belly fat accumulation. Not cool.
We Need a Chance to Unplug
Sure, a lazy Saturday means that you may be lying around watching a movie, but it’s different than being attached to your smartphone or Facebook. Most of us multitask like crazy during the week: Facebook is up in one window, Twitter is chiming on the phone, friends are texting, work emails need to be answered, and you’re rushing off to a meeting or killing yourself to reach a deadline. Putting all the mobile devices down is something wonderful that we can do for ourselves and our families.
Better yet, grab a book. Reading gives us a chance to exercise our imagination muscles. We’re active participants in the story, rather than passive viewers of something going on on-screen.
Daydreaming is Good for You
Want to boost your memory? Try daydreaming on the couch next Sunday afternoon.
According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin and the Max Planck Instituted for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, daydreaming is correlated to an increased ability to exercise one’s working memory. “Cognitive scientists define this type of memory as the brain’s ability to retain and recall information in the face of distractions.” says the article via Smithsonian.com. So when you daydream and use your imagination, you’re helping your brain use those memory muscles…and that’s got to make for easier work weeks.
So the next time I feel bad about lazing around on a Saturday afternoon, I’m going to try to remember that it’s good for me. I encourage you to do the same!
Originally posted on my other blog, The Brainy Babe
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