“Soldier on”

Even the flu medication ads use this term in their marketing.

If we are sick, why do we need to “soldier on.”

If we are mentally exhausted, why do we need to “soldier on.”

Is soldiering on the answer to the world’s problems?

I think soldiering on is one of the most significant problems in our world right now.

We come from a generation of must achieve, must do and be more.

As midlife women we were bought up to either be a stay-at-home mum or go to work and raise a family simultaneously.

Due to wanting to create a better/richer life for ourselves than our parents had, many of us opted to go to work as well as raise our families.

Which has empowered women across the globe and has created great strides professionally for us, however it has come at a cost to all humans.

The idea that busy is powerful, rewarding and expected has created a world full of burnt-out humans.

The idea that success comes from pushing harder and striving for more has created a world of burnt out and highly frustrated humans.

The idea that to have it all we must stomp over others at all costs has created a world of burnt out, highly frustrated and angry humans.

So, do you still think soldering on is the answer?

Where is the nurturing?

Where is the love?

Where is time to restore?

And why is it perceived that doing nothing = being lazy?

So how does one do nothing?

From experience this is not something that comes easily to me or many others.

As a coach who works with women who have been “busy” their whole lives, learning to do nothing is a whole new concept that takes practice.

‘To do nothing at all,’ said Oscar Wilde, ‘is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual.’

Often struggling with the I am not good enough or I should be doing more mind traps we find ourselves trying on “doing nothing” but can’t sit still long enough to actually do it.

(Those mind traps are for another article another time.)

Here are 5 ways to try on “doing nothing” – give each of them a go and see how you feel.

  • Set a timer for 3 minutes and sit in front of a window without any other distractions. Watch the world outside go by.
  • Sit up straight in a comfortable chair and close your eyes. Clench your fists gently as you inhale and release them as you exhale. Try this for 10 clenches.
  • Lay on the floor or bed and close your eyes. Inhale for the count of 4, exhale for the count of 8. Try this for 1 minute.
  • Standing or sitting tall put your hands on your hips, close your eyes and gently rotate your torso left and right for a count of 20. Exhaling slowly as you twist.
  • Standing or seated bring your arms above your head as you inhale then let your torso and arms relax bending at the waist as you “flop” towards the floor on the exhale. Visualise releasing any tension within the body. Try this 3 times.

You can use any or all of these throughout your day to create a sense of calm or peace whenever you need them.

The idea is to increase number 1 in minutes for as long as you can.

This creates space within your brain, like a mini reset to stop receiving a bombardment of information and to just be.

You might just be surprised at what thoughts come out of these “doing nothing” breaks and what light bulb moments you may have in regard to your own life and how you can continue to live well.

If you are interested in helping yourself reset and restore, I have a 21-day free challenge you may be interested in.

You can find out more and register here> https://meeactive.lpages.co/reset