Stop Moving and Start Doing Nothing

My orginal intention when I started swimming regularly was as part of my personal fitness campaign. Whilst there have certainly been benefits in that area, I have found that, in fact, swimming has contributed as much to my wellbeing and my ability to take time out to think and reflect.

Swimming is a great all-round physical activity but it also providers matchless opportunities for relaxation. For example, have you ever suspended yourself motionless in a vertical position? I didn't realise this was actually possible until I tried it. Obviously, you need to keep your breathing passages clear of the water! There is something quite liberating about floating motionless: it's effortless and you have a sense of weightlessness as the water supports your body.

The other floating position I adopt is to just float horizontally with subtle movement of hands and feet to keep my body still and on the surface of the water. This, too, is a liberating experience.

I contemplated whilst undergoing one of these floating episodes that life could really benefit from a few regular pauses for stillness. We fill our lives with activity, be it family, work, social or otherwise. But do we give ourselves time and space to just stop and reflect? If not, why not? Does the idea scare us? Does it feel unnatural? Do we wonder what we would do?

One of the beauties of real friendship is the ability to actually be in the company of a friend and not feel compelled to say or do anything: just experiencing the enjoyment of each other's company. However, I suspect that even this is a rare experience for most people.

Our bodies need rest and relaxation. Yes, sleep, too. But rest and relaxation whilst awake is something that many of us deny ourselves. I don't even mean relaxing in front of the TV. I mean relaxation without any form of stimulus: the ability to say and do nothing.

I don't believe for a minute that our bodies were meant to be busy all of the time. I do believe that doing nothing is an investment - that giving ourselves a proper break actually benefits the times when we are busy. However, we have breakfast on the go - or not at all, a working lunch (if we're lucky) and dinner sometime at the end of the day but that, too, could be compromised.

How about:

a) getting up a little earlier and sitting down for a quiet, unrushed breakfast?

b) stopping for even just a short while in the middle of the day to sit down for a proper lunch?

c) making time to have an evening meal with someone important in our life at the end of the day?

d) taking time out to sit with a friend from time to time to enjoy a few idyllic moments together?

e) taking a swim and spending some of that just floating and enjoying the sensation of suspense?

I have had to make myself do some of these and I'm glad I'm doing it. I feel better for stopping and I especially feel better for doing nothing at times.


If you take time out, how do you achieve it? What works for you?

If you know you need to stop moving and start doing nothing, how are you going to make sure this happens?

Please feel free to comment.