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This article is part of SELFs third annualRest Week, an editorial package dedicated to doing less.
Nolan Pelletier
Taking care of yourself, physically and emotionally, is impossible without genuine downtime.
(And were taking our own advice: The SELF staff will be OOO during this time!)
Nowadays, for many of us, these unstructured moments seem fewer and farther between.
Plans are Tetris-ed into a packed calendar and planned well in advance, leaving little room for spontaneity.
And after talking with a couple of experts on the topic, I know Im not the only one.
Where has all the quality time gone?
Loose, liminal time with others used to be baked into life.
Less unstructured time is certainly playing a role in theloneliness epidemic, Dr. Hafeez says.
When youre not trying to accomplish anything, you have space to justbe.
The freedom to allow your mind to roam may also help increase creativity and problem-solving, Dr. Stratyner says.
And when you combine this lower-stress, more open-minded environment with social interaction, good stuff happens.
By contrast, fixed plans canfeel like an obligation, which can trigger tension and stress.
Frequent superficial socializing doesnt do much for us.
Positive relationships canreduce our riskfor various diseases and even extend thelength of our lives, she says.
Some people may experience anxiety because they believe they should bedoingsomething.
Others will feel guilty or worried about how unproductive theyre being.
It can be as easy as saying, Come over and lets just hang out or Drop by whenever!
I have no plans and would love to catch up.
With no rigid agenda, people are free to explore whatever feels right.
The beauty of this kind of get-together is that things can unfold naturally, creating unforgettable memories.
Doing nothingwith your favorite people doesnt need to mean youreliterallydoing nothing.
Instead of playing hostess or ordering takeout, cook dinner together with whatever you have in the fridge.
Dog needs to go out?
Walk the pup with your partner instead of sending them to do it alone.
Want to get off the couch?
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