When Was the Last Time You Did… Absolutely Nothing?
Not sleep.
Not multitask.
Not tick something off a list.
Just… be.
For many of us — especially women in midlife and beyond — the idea of doing nothing feels alien, even indulgent. We're conditioned to constantly do, produce, care, provide, support. But what if the very thing we avoid is exactly what we need to survive — and thrive?
Ask yourself this simple question: When did you last stop long enough to hear yourself think?
Why We’re So Tired — And Why Sleep Isn’t Enough
Burnout isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a creeping epidemic. And you don’t have to be a CEO to suffer from it.
Stress comes from living out of alignment with our truth — staying in jobs we hate, relationships that drain us, or routines that leave no time to breathe.
We push ourselves, ignore the signs, and then one small thing tips the scale. Suddenly, joy fades. The world goes grey. We break down — mentally, physically, emotionally.
Sound familiar?
The Myth of Productivity and the Trap of Constant Doing
In a culture obsessed with hustle, “doing nothing” can feel like failure. But rest isn't laziness — it's maintenance.
You wouldn't drive your car without servicing it. So why do we treat our bodies and minds like machines with no off switch?
Rest is a right. Stillness is a practice. Doing nothing is healing.
9 Powerful Ways to Rest (Beyond Just Sleep)
Wellness expert, Sam Palmer, of Midlife Makeover suggests 9 ways you can incorporate true rest into your life:
🏖 Time Away — Step away from daily obligations, even briefly.
🎨 Do Something Unproductive — Without guilt. Wander. Daydream.
🌳 Appreciate Nature — Walk without a goal. Let nature reset you.
🎶 Immerse yourself in Music — Let it wash over you, without multitasking.
🖼 Engage with Art — Visit a gallery. Get lost in beauty.
🏠 Spend Time Alone at Home — Reclaim quiet, private space.
💭 Be Creatively Still — Paint, write, garden — not for the outcome, but for the sheer joy of it.
🧘♀️ Connect with Stillness — Meditate. Breathe. Float.
❤️ Let Go of Guilt — You don’t need permission — but you have it anyway!
Final Thought: You’re Not Broken. You’re Tired!
If life has started to lose its colour…
If joy feels far away…
If you're exhausted no matter how much you sleep…
Maybe you don’t need to try harder. Maybe you just need to do less.
Try doing nothing — and watch how much of you comes back.
💬 What about you?
What kind of rest have you been craving? What would “doing nothing” look like for you this week?
Comment below and join the conversation.
Listen as I talk more about this important concept:
The Midlife Movement can help you embrace your middle years and beyond with less stress and more joy! How?
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