Sometime we fail to enjoy times we have free. We have lost the art of loafing or doing nothing, in the modern world not many people can do it without feeling guilty or at least like they should be doing something.

All nature loafs, while man alone works for a living. He works because he has to, because thanks to the progress of civilization life gets incredibly more complex, with duties, responsibilities, fears and ambitions, born not of nature but of human society…….. – Lin Yutang

When first reading this I was struck by the truth behind the words of the wise Lin Yutang much of the work we do and things we do are spurred out of fear from human society and go totally against our nature. We can all relate to this I have had countless a day off in which I have felt lazy or unproductive for lounging around and doing pretty much nothing, this feeling pushed me into running around and finding trivial things to do. While there is always “something” that needs to be done we can forget that sometimes that “something” is to rest, relax and re-cooperate the body initiating a healing process we all need to repair from the strains of everyday life…….

• Sedentary Days (going to class, desk jobs etc…)
• Holidays
• Having a day off with nothing to be done or do…

These are examples of times we can fail to make the most of and enjoy to their full extent. Now I do not by any means mean that we should be lazy and unproductive all of the time but rather we should utilize the few days per month that we have the opportunity to really relax and unwind.

To restore to health or soundness – Healing

Learn to see days off as a time in which you will heal rather than being associated with weight gain or anything else negative you may associate with lazy days. So here is my guide to enjoying these days…..

—> Nourish yourself with good food, eat to appetite and more if you wish on these days. No deprivation is allowed, just stick to healthy and nutritious foods and see the days as an opportunity to pack in all the nutrients available to fully nourish your body. Also see Intermittent Feasting…..

—> Do whatever you enjoy most. Grab some books on your favorite subjects, cook or go for a walk or hike. And if possible lounge in the Sun and soak up some Vitamin D, getting out into nature is a great way to enjoy days and allow your body and soul to recharge.

—> Have some quiet time in a place where you can be alone with no distractions. Silence is natures restorer….

—> Nap and Lounge during the day. Many cultures work hard in the mornings and spend the afternoon loafing and napping, this sounds like a pretty good model to me plus napping has many many benefits…… so if you are reading and feel the urge to switch off for a while take full advantage and take a nap.

—> Remember it may feel odd at first to not be rushing around and needing to do something “more important” but this feeling will pass and you will start to relax into the day.

The beautiful thing about nourishing your body with not only food but relaxation time is it really helps you top up emotional reserves allowing you to cope with life far better.  See it as Strategic Refueling as Robin Sharma calls it that will put you into renewal mode.

“Don’t be so busy driving that you forget to refuel” – Robin Sharma

You will notice mood will increase and tolerance to stressful situations will also improve, not to mention sleep and productivity….

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