The Happiness Track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success by Emma Seppala

Author:Emma Seppala [Seppala, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-01-26T07:00:00+00:00

MAKE TIME FOR IDLENESS

Although you may not think you have time for idleness or unstructured time, we all do. It doesn’t always involve changing your schedule either. Sometimes it just means altering how you do things. Here are some examples of how you can diversify your activities, make time for stillness and silence, and engage in playful activities.

DIVERSIFY YOUR ACTIVITIES

•As Adam Grant39 points out, we choose to pack any moment of unfocused nonworking time with some kind of focused consumption. On a break at work, you may check Google News, read up on the latest celebrity gossip, check your social media accounts, read your favorite blogs, or send some text messages. Instead, choose an activity that is less focused, like stretching, listening to music, taking a quick walk, or cleaning your desk.

•At work, organize your tasks so as to alternate activities that demand lots of concentration (for instance, writing up a proposal) with tasks that are less intellectually demanding (such as entering data). No matter what your profession, you will be able to identify the tasks that you find more or less challenging.

•If your work is mostly intellectual, you might learn some pragmatic skills to get out of your head: learn to change your car’s oil, to cook Thai cuisine, to play an instrument, or to give a massage. If your job is more hands on or people oriented, diversification may mean studying a new language, learning chess, or reading poetry.

•Try expanding your areas of interest. Do you mostly read books or blogs about your field? If so, try switching to a whole different genre of reading materials: funny books, classics, or general-interest magazines. Watch TV shows or documentaries that have nothing to do with your primary field of work. If you enjoy social activities, join Meetup groups focused on activities you have never tried before, such as AcroYoga or cycling. Are you often sedentary, staying mostly in your office and car? Choose to exercise outside rather than spending time in an indoor gym—swim, go for hikes, ski.

MAKE TIME FOR SILENCE

•Sometimes we need a structured environment to unplug. Try attending a retreat; there are many meditation, wellness, yoga, and hiking retreats available. Start slowly if you are new to retreats. Try a day-long or weekend-long workshop.

•If retreats or meditation are not your thing, you can find silence in your own way. One opportunity for stillness that we have all around us is nature. Whether you’re in a city or suburb, you can take a break from work and take a short stroll. Even in the thick of Manhattan, trees and plants are growing and birds and insects fly around. Nature is all around us, yet we often forget to notice. When you’re out for a stroll, look up at the trees and the sky instead of checking your text messages. In fact, leave your phone behind.

•Meditation is a silent activity. There are many forms of meditation, some of which involve a lot of focus and concentration. If your life and profession already involves intense focus, you may wish to opt for a nonfocused meditation.

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