In Praise of Idleness: Rethinking Rest and Hard Work

Hello friends,

From a young age I was always taught:

“You must work hard, and not be lazy.”

And so much of it was mixed with moral language.

• Working hard is virtuous, honorable, necessary, and praiseworthy

• Laziness is bad, undesirable, shameful, and a sign of weakness.

And I get where it’s coming from. But in our society, we swing too far on the working hard.

I’m not saying you should be lazy.

But consider if you are able to truly be idle and rest.

This week in building health 👇

How to Embrace Idleness for a Better Life

Today’s essay is by the philosopher Bertrand Russell (and an echo from when I used to teach philosophy at university)

Like all of us, Russel grew up believing in the value of hard work. But as he grew older, he saw the drawbacks of too much work. Moreover, he thought that portraying hard work as a virtue had some negative effects on our society.

Think back to the last time you had no “to-dos” and just did “nothing”

• Was it relaxing?

• Were you restless?

• Did you feel guilty?

• Did you have no idea what to do with yourself?

If you do, you’re not alone.

Many people struggle with idleness and rest. Simply because it’s so counter-cultural.

The Historical and Social Context of Work

Hard work is deep in our culture because historically, it was necessary for survival.

Simply put, if you didn’t work, you didn’t eat, and you don’t survive.

But more and more that’s not true in modern society. With technology today, we can get more done with less work. And that extra time ought to be put to leisure- not more work!

So this belief that work is a good thing, and that idleness is bad is no longer needed.

We need to rethink our relationship with work, rest and leisure.

We are Experiencing the Pain of a “Hard Work” Culture

Today people are working more and more hours with less and less time to rest. And they’re getting more and more burnt out.

Everyone feels like they’re at a breaking point.

Everyone’s obsessed with mental health, and different “hacks” to recover and de-stress.

But there’s no tricks or short cuts.

We simply need more time to be idle.

Changing your perspective on idleness can lead to a happier and more balanced life. Remember, idleness isn't always bad. It's okay to rest and recharge.

What Happens when you Have Leisure?

When you have time to do anything you want, magical things start to happen. We suddenly have time to think, create, and explore.

It is during leisure that:

• We develop new ideas, innovations, and solutions.

• We improve mental health and reduce stress.

• We can strengthen relationships with family and friends

• We pursue hobbies and passions that make us happy

• We contribute to our communities in a meaningful way.

By embracing leisure, we're not being lazy or unproductive. Arguably we are giving more to ourselves, our communities and our societies. Especially in ways that cannot be measured.

We're investing in ourselves and our society beyond traditional work.

→ Read more on this here

My favorite health things for the week

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What is sleep syncing?

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Understanding and harnessing sleep's restorative power is essential for anyone who values health.

This article explains the benefits of aligning our sleep patterns with our body's natural circadian rhythms, also known as sleep syncing.

It offers seven practical steps to incorporate into our daily routines, ranging from consistent wake-up times to reducing screen time before bed.

→ Read more on this here

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4 Vagus Nerve Exercises to Transform How You Handle Stress

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The vagus nerve reduces stress and enhances focus, sleep, and resilience.

And this quick article offers practical, easy exercises that you can do at home without special equipment.

Techniques like controlled breathing, singing, and meditation can quickly shift your body's state and help you feel better instantly.

→ Read More About it Here

// three

How to Take A Power Nap

5 minutes

I found a fascinating video on power napping benefits and wanted to share it with you.

Napping is not just for kids or grandparents.

Science supports it, and NASA employs it as well!

→ Read More About it Here

Until next time

Thanks again for reading.

Have a Healthy Weekend