I have been noticing lately that as a mom, business owner, partner, momma to be, person looking for a new home for her family and all of the other things I currently identify with I rarely remember to allow truly dead space.
All day long I am navigating taking care of my daughter, running the business, feeding my family, picking up our messes, researching all the things, house hunting, keeping in touch with friends and on and on that when I actually have down time, I forget that it is possible (and actually a good thing) to do nothing.
To read nothing, to watch nothing, to be doing nothing but just being there with myself and the space. Even when taking a bath recently I remember asking myself, okay what I am going to do during this bath? Watch a show or read a book? Oh wait….I could just sit here with nothing on, nothing to immerse myself in and just BE in the bath.
I realized that because my days are so full and that I do love to watch a good show and unwind reading a great book that when I get “ME” time at the end of the day (especially when the Dada is away on tour) I end up filling all the time with a balance of getting work done, getting house stuff done, research and indulging on entertainment but I was forgetting to leave void space.
I definitely always had and have down time, I made sure of that. I haven’t been running myself into the ground. I listen to my body, put my feet up, go to bed early (most of the time), do self care practices. BUT, I always had something occupying my attention. Working in bed while watching a show. Relaxing in a bath while reading a book. Laying down while catching up on social media.
So, really I was never turning off. I was never leaving space. Sure, I was relaxing but while still keeping somewhat occupied. So for the past few weeks I have been working to implement some truly dead space. And yes even when I brought attention to the lack of space and did allow it my mind would still be working…but with no other distractions or devices I was able to fully be in that space and allow that space. My mind turned on and off but it was actually able to turn off.
I know that I need that, we all need that. We need the void. Even if it is small segments here and there. The days where I allow myself to sit down outside and just gaze at the trees and the sky for even two minutes recharge me far more than the time spent in front of the TV with a iPhone in my hand scrolling through feeds.
So, hey….do yourself a favor and allow some dead space in your life. Even a few minutes. Surrender your devices. Turn off your mind of all of your todos. And allow yourself to just be.
