In a culture obsessed with optimization, rest feels revolutionary.
Just when the tide seemed to be turning away from hustle culture, it’s infiltrated an arena that’s supposed to make us feel better: health and fitness. Spending 30 seconds scrolling means we’re often inundated with influencer reels and ads pushing high-protein diets, rigorous workout routines, and other unattainable ways to optimize our health.
While it can be rewarding to set health goals, that doesn’t mean always pushing harder and breaking progress down into metrics. Sometimes the most restorative thing we can do is to simply rest. No meal prepping, sleep hygiene, or kettlebells on the agenda—just time to let our mind wander, to sit in stillness, or notice the beauty of nature. Here are three ways to feel energized and inspired by doing less.
Embrace boredom
Our first instinct might be to associate boredom with feelings of malaise or listlessness. But in an attention economy where every piece of technology we own is vying for our focus, often leading to feeling stressed or overwhelmed, allowing ourselves to be bored can be a small act of resistance that comes with health benefits.
Carving out short periods of time where our nervous system isn’t overstimulated has a positive impact on our wellbeing and productivity, potentially calming anxiety by reducing sensory input. Mild boredom also helps our brain shift into the “default mode network” (think of it as the brain on auto-pilot), which allows our mind to wander, helping us make new connections between ideas and embrace out-of-the-box thinking, leading to heightened creativity.
Go on a micro-adventure
In his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, psychologist and author Dacher Keltner explains how witnessing moments of awe—whether a transcendent natural phenomenon like the northern lights or a moment of kindness between two people—affects our health. It activates the vagus nerve to reduce anxiety, boost the immune system, and stimulate the brain to orient us to be more open to the world and other people.
According to Keltner, awe transpires alongside novelty, which we often experience in a new place. However, sometimes the logistics of trip planning and air travel just doesn’t feel like it’s worth the stress. The good news is cultivating a sense of awe and reaping its health benefits doesn’t mean going far. Taking off on a weekend camping trip close to home, or even just heading out on an afternoon nature walk can be beneficial.
Break a sweat without moving
Sometimes the best kind of exercise is working up a good sweat without much effort. One method that may improve cardiovascular health and reduce stress that doesn’t involve touching a dumbbell is contrast hydrotherapy. Better known as a sauna-and-cold-plunge combo, contrast hydrotherapy combines the detoxifying and cardiovascular benefits of a Swedish or infrared sauna with the dopamine-boosting power of cold-water immersion.
By alternating between hot and cold during a 60-minute circuit (most experts recommend 10 – 20 minutes in the sauna followed by 1 – 5 minutes in cold water), our bodies produce a vascular pumping effect by expanding and constricting blood vessels. This may unlock deeper health benefits, such as reducing muscle pain and inflammation, and promoting circulation and joint health. The blissful, post-sauna state-of-mind makes this a great ritual to unwind with at the end of the day, along with a cup of tea that supports rest, naturally.