How "Doing Nothing" Makes Me More Productive

Lately, I've noticed I was spinning in my head a lot. Feeling very insecure about decisions that need to be made and unable to focus on the tasks at hand. Scattered. Maybe you've been there too. This can happen a lot when I'm not really present in my body. Sure I'm physically there, but my soul and/or my mind is somewhere else. If there's a pattern that you're noticing- or trying to not notice- you may be trying to intellectualize it instead of feeling it. It's ok, you're not alone. It happens to me way more often than I'd like and I am more aware of it than before so there is proof that practicing works.
 
I remember when I first became aware of this habit, I was reading a blog about mental mastery- really looking for some intellectual answers is always my M.O.- and it suggested asking yourself, "where am I?" Of course, I kept trying and trying to understand what they were saying, using only my thinking and ability to learn. I've since realized how important the mind/body connection is to growing spiritually. Now, I like to ask myself "what part of your body feels numb" and "what part of your body do you keep paying attention to"? It's ok to focus on whatever it is you're focused on, but a lot of times it can signal the incongruence that you can begin to ask questions around. This is also where yoga can be very helpful. Starting to practice feeling the movement instead of only being focused on doing it right can help you get even more benefits from the movement- build those muscles- and also make it more pleasant for you as you grow.
 
One of the practices I have learned from yoga is to "connect to the earth".  When you are really pressing against the earth (or floor) -letting yourself feel weighty- it becomes a little easier to start to trust the support that is provided to you. It may sound very yogi, but I have found this to leak out into other areas of my life and relationships- the more grounded and supported I feel, the more sturdy my relationship feel and the more willing I am to lean on them for support.
 
Here's something you can try:
Close your eyes. Feel what's beneath you. If you're sitting, feel your body get heavy as you trust your chair a little more. Notice what comes up when you start to feel a little heavier? For me, I notice some fear and vulnerability in relaxing- like I should be doing something else. If I can hold on beyond that, I notice space- like things I had been worrying about don't feel like they require my attention at this moment. It may be a fleeting moment and whether or not I make it to that next level, I try to say "thank you" to myself when I start to feel the heaviness. When I do that, I notice something shifting in my core almost like my body is saying you're welcome to my mind. That may sound very woowoo to you but this exercise has been super helpful for me to just begin to pay attention to the sensations of being present. We get so busy with day to day to-do lists and when I stay out of touch with myself, it's more likely that I will feel burned out or drained. I'd encourage you to consider trying this exercise for a week and just notice how things change for you.

Let me know what changes for you in the comments below!