Mindful Leisure for a Busy Mind

Leisure is essential for higher productivity and better focus.

You can enjoy it alone.

• Read a book.

• Take a walk.

• Sit and think.

• Meditate.

• Enjoy nature.

• Exercise.

• Watch a movie.

Or... you can socialize.

Rich social interactions often enhance your breaks, leading to high quality leisure.

• You can play board games together.

• Or exercise in groups.

• Or join book clubs to discuss what you’ve read.

It can be fun even to meet friends or family - for coffee or drinks, in an environment where conversation flows and ideas are shared or debated.

The key to such supercharged socializing is to spend in-person time together with others. And engage in activity that is structured, enjoyable, and benefits everyone in some way.

So you may set rules, create rituals, share goals, or compete in teams - all to enrich your time off from work.

At the same time you’ll also build skills and attitudes that will serve you... when it’s time to hop back into the saddle.

This requires mental space, as well as freedom to let your imagination wander without restraint or limits.

Unfortunately, your attention is being constantly drawn from one needless notification to another. That leaves you with less time for mind wandering.

So it’s harder to figure out your life, and your own place in the world. The ensuing confusion and lack of direction makes it harder for you to stay focused. You’re easily tempted by any distraction.

That’s why you should intentionally create space to let your mind wander.

At the same time, you should take care not to let it devolve into crowding your mind with stressful thoughts and anxieties. Those could be tormenting, and actually worsen your ability to focus.

But under circumstances of low stress, mind wandering is a pleasurable and creative force to tap productively.

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