Better Wellbeing Through Doing Nothing

Most of the time when we consider ways to help improve our health or well-being, we think about the things we have to take action on. In this episode we explore the benefits of simply taking a break. Resisting the pressure to always be "doing" something is often very difficult. We share ways to subtly give yourself a short break every now and then and explore the benefits of doing so.

Episode 121 of the The Better Show podcast, hosted by March Rogers, Darren Austin, Ian Mikutel, titled "Better Wellbeing Through Doing Nothing" was published on February 10, 2020 and runs 53 minutes.

February 10, 2020 ·53m · The Better Show

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

Episode Description

Show Notes

1:40 — The inspiration for this episode.
4:38 — What “doing nothing” every once in a while is important.
7:42 — Darren ponders why we seem to be busier than ever even as we introduce new technology that is supposed to save us time
8:21 — March shares an interesting finding from a recent survey that showed that only 17% of Americans spent any time just being with their thoughts in the past month.
10:40 — The definition of “burnout” and the research into the risk factors for burnout.
13:37 — The connection between loneliness, technology and burnout.
15:01 — Ian shares his personal experience of studying stoicism as a remedy for personal burnout.
17:53 — The importance of recognizing the importance of stillness in life.
19:14 — March’s experiment with creating a time for stillness and the similarity he found with a meditation practice.
20:58 — Paying attention to the “default mode network” of the brain and the tendency toward negative thoughts.
22:51 — Darren shares how he has prioritized his “IRL” interactions and his yoga practice as ways of guarding against personal burnout.
25:35 — Tactics Ian and March use to create space in their lives for stillness.
29:54 — The benefit that being bored helps foster your creativity.
30:47 — March shares the findings from “the phone book study” about boredom and creativity.
34:59 — The benefits of quiet time and “boredom” on short-term memory and social interactions.
36:49 — Cognitive behavioral therapy.
38:28 — The Happiness Trap by Russ Harriss
41:15 — Using the tactic of setting boundaries as a way to prevent personal burnout.
42:39 — Make Time by Jake Knapp
43:40 — The Bored & Brilliant Challenge from the Note to Self podcast.
46:40 — Taking a “stay-cation” to reduce stress and burnout.
48:52 — March, Ian and Darren share the things they are going to adopt from this episode.