The conditioning to always be doing something productive pervasive.
Undoing that conditioning is a constant practice.
I write about this a lot because this is my kryptonite. It’s the lesson I struggle with the most.
Today I went to do a NormaTec compression session at LivKraft, a wellness space in La Jolla that is on ClassPass.
A nice act of self-care to aid in my recovery from weeks of hard workouts and yoga teacher training.
In a NormaTec compression session, you sit in a recliner chair with long inflatable boots on your legs. The boots are attached to a pump that inflated the boots around your legs, giving you a massage and circulating the blood and fluids in your legs to aid recovery.
Here’s a picture:
The session lasts for 45 minutes.
The Default Question
My first thought was how can I maximize this time?
How can I make this 45 minutes productive?
What can I get done while I’m sitting in the chair as the compression boots do their thing?
After all, the compression session doesn’t impact my hands and arms. I wouldn’t be under water, or unconscious, or in a meditation room.
I could get work done in the chair. This is the ideal multi-tasking scenario.
Could I write?
Post to social media?
Read a few chapters of a book?
Listen to a podcast?
Wisely, I left my iPad behind, knowing that the compression session wouldn’t be conducive to typing on the iPad. Any typing would have to be on my phone.
I tossed a book into my bag. Once I settled in with the boots on, I took out the book and started to read.
Making a New Choice
After a few minutes, I put the book down and I heard a voice of wisdom speak.
Why must I always be doing something else to maximize my time?
What’s wrong with just sitting in the chair and feeling the compression boots do their thing? Isn’t that enough?
The answer is YES.
Sitting in a chair and allowing the passive process to happen is enough.
We need not make “productive use” of every moment of sitting down. It’s ok to be idle.
In fact, it’s necessary — for body, mind, and spirit.
I reminded myself why I was there: rest and recovery.
Results Require Rest
The quality of your workouts and your work are directly affected by the quality of your recovery. Subpar recovery leads to subpar results.
This was time for the important task of doing nothing.
Don’t underestimate it — this is a difficult task that requires full presence.
And that’s what I gave it.
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