Strategic Disengagement at Home
Carrying our theme – the importance of doing nothing – to the home environment is just as important as how we give ourselves a brain break when we are working. I’m certain many of you hit the ground running when you jump out of bed. Perhaps you’ve created a To Do list of sorts before you even get out of bed. Our mindset of “doing” takes over the mindset of “being”. What if that were not the case?
Another metaphor that illustrates how important doing nothing is to our health and well-being comes from farming. As a matter of practice, farmers like to rotate their crops each year (giving the soil a break). This allows the soil to replenish itself, avoiding depletion of important nutrients. The result is greater harvests and longer-lasting farms.
Isn’t that what we want for ourselves and our families – replenishment of our energy, healthier bodies, and quality relationships. That requires taking a break for our brains, for our bodies, and from constantly doing! Here are possibilities for making that happen.
Balance Between Doing and Not Doing at Home
| Doing | Not Doing |
| Making family time a priority | Taking work home |
| Setting office hours | Responding to emails and texts after hours |
| Being fully present | Multitasking with people or with devices |
| Playing games, taking trips, making memories with the entire family | Playing games on devices in isolation of other family members |
| Practicing daily mindfulness – awareness of the present moment | Rushing and hurrying throughout the day |
| Laughing often | Seeing the glass half full |
| Discovering the power of “awe” – a sunset, a kindness, a beautiful picture, etc. | Constantly watching TV or looking at devices |
| Doing Nothing – a true brain break! | Being busy every minute of every day |
| Add your idea | Add your idea |
| Add another idea | Add another idea |
