What do you do in your smaller moments?

October 11, 2016 4:46 AM

I have trouble resting in my no-obligation-smaller-moments, and I want to know what you do in your free moments throughout the day to build energy rather than deplete it.

When I get up in the morning, I have a short morning routine to get ready. Then, after that, I'm usually checking Facebook, Twitter, or the news before heading into work. Then, at work, when there's a brief moment of not needing to do anything, I will check my phone or return to these websites as a break of sorts.

I don't think this habit is actually restful, but I'm not sure how to replace these moments with a more restful and profitable activity. I tried just not doing anything sometimes and simply noticing what's around me and losing myself in thought. This works sometimes. I've also tried downloading some books to my Kindle app on my iPhone, and that's helped a bit because I can pull up the book really quickly on my phone when I feel myself getting distracted and just wandering around on my electronics to pass the time.

What strategies and habits do you use to keep from being twitchy and distracted like this? What are the things you do in your smaller moments to build energy rather than giving it away to the social media abyss?

posted by uncannyslacks to Health & Fitness (22 answers total)

Go to the office kitchen and spend longer than necessary getting something to drink, then going over and staring out a window for a while, maybe watch people walk around or just look at the buildings. This is fine on its own. But hopefully by that point another coworker has also decided it's a good time to get something to drink. If it's one of the fun ones, I stay and chat a bit. If it's one of the ones who insists on talking about work even in the safe space of the kitchen, I go back to my desk.
posted by phunniemee at 4:55 AM on October 11, 2016 [7 favorites]

carry a small volume of poems around and read it instead of reading on your phone. If I may be so bold as to suggest a poet: Brenda Shaughnessy is wonderful.
posted by Morpeth at 5:12 AM on October 11, 2016 [15 favorites]

I stand and breath mindfully (so just noticing each in breath and each out breath) while waiting for the kettle to boil, or my food to come out of the microwave at work. I stretch too to counteract my computer/office work.

I also read poetry instead of blogs sometimes and I love that suggestion.

In the morning, you could try a brief yoga routine if that appeals to you, Yoga with Adriene on youtube is really great and she has shorter and longer videos.
posted by lafemma at 5:19 AM on October 11, 2016 [5 favorites]

Sketching! Carry around a little sketchbook and a pen. It only takes a moment to draw whatever happens to be in your field of vision. Bonus: it encourages you to really pay attention to the world around you.
posted by 168 at 5:21 AM on October 11, 2016 [5 favorites]

I couldn't do it in the office, but 12 minutes is all it takes for a session of Headspace (or whatever meditation you'd like).
posted by getawaysticks at 5:24 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty high strung and ADD brained and exist on a sort of frantic state most of the time, so when I have any sort of free time, even just 15 minutes, I devote it to hobbies and crafts that calm my mind. Knitting and cross stitch are two hobbies that soothe me and chill me out and that are easy to do just a bit of. In the mornings when I get up earlier I do some pre-work knitting in my sanctuary and just be at peace.

For time at work when I have a few minutes to kill or need a mental break, I will research new sewing or knitting projects. Different patterns, materials, techniques, etc. Whatever. I think because those activities (knitting, sewing, cross stitch) are so meditative and soothing for me pretty much anything related to those hobbies have an associated positive soothing effect. And if I am working from home (which I do a few days a week) and I am getting stressed out I will stop and knit for like 7 minutes to just decompress.

And finally, ... and just bare with me on this... is it such a bad thing to have some mindless unproductive few minutes in your day where you just screw around on your phone? Maybe that is entirely what you need. Don't get me wrong, I totally get you with the wanting to maximize the efficiency and "profitability" of your time, even down time, but that in of itself can be very un-restful. I just worry that you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself and hollering at yourself "RELAX AND ENERGIZE, GOD DAMN YOU!!!" rarely reaps rewards. Overstated, sure, but you get what I mean.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 5:46 AM on October 11, 2016 [5 favorites]

I've caught myself doing this too recently, and to counteract it have started going outside for a quick walk in these circumstances. It's a better "recharge" since my work is usually heavily computer-based.
posted by heatherlogan at 5:58 AM on October 11, 2016 [3 favorites]

Seconding/Thirding the poetry recommendation; poem anthologies lend themselves well to this; 10-15mins is enough to read a poem and think on it a bit. It's a nice way to pass some time. I used to think poetry was too fanciful/impractical for me, but now have a much deeper appreciation for the art.

I also read books on my phone, alternating between fiction and non fiction; 10-15 minutes is enough for me to get through a few pages, and it's a nice break from reality. My problem actually becomes ensuring that I have enough books to read! I zoom through them!

YMMV; I'm really good at reading in bits and pieces.
posted by larthegreat at 6:28 AM on October 11, 2016

I keep a novel with me at all times for just those moments. You'll be surprised at how much reading you can squeeze in that way! My commute to work is about 25 minutes and I often arrive at work 15 minutes early. I stay in the car and use those 15 minutes to read a chapter or two before heading in to work. I find that not only does it give me a chance to make progress on my current book (15 min/day x 5 days/week = 1 hour and 15 min of reading time I normally wouldn't have!), but it also acts a great decompressor after my commute--a chance to relax a bit after driving and before diving into work. If you don't like/find it impractical carrying a book around, you could always opt for an ebook app.
posted by galaxypeachtea at 6:32 AM on October 11, 2016 [3 favorites]

I've been taking the time to stretch. Arms in the air, breathe mindfully, lean to the sides. Stand up, stretch out calves and hamstrings (note, the classic hamstring stretch is very folded-over and not easy to do in most office environments, but it's also possible to find variations that are less awkward-looking, for example standing on one foot with the other out in front of you, and leaning forward to that front leg, you can adjust the relative positions of your hips and foot and lower back to change the way you feel the stretch without folding your shoulders way forward.)
posted by aimedwander at 6:41 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Do you have the kind of job where you can walk around, either in the building or around the block? I try to get up and wander around at least a couple times a day; it really clears my head.

"A breath of fresh air" is a cliche for a reason.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:45 AM on October 11, 2016 [4 favorites]

I do planks or squats if I can't leave my desk; a stairs circuit or two if I can.
posted by headnsouth at 6:50 AM on October 11, 2016

I download longform journalism to Instapaper for these times.
posted by ellieBOA at 6:54 AM on October 11, 2016

Two activities I've used to replace social media browsing at work:

Add work-related news sources to a news / feed reader app and browse that instead.

Review my personal to-do list. I do this in a notebook because it helps me get off my phone and into another mental space. I keep mine bullet-journal style, including pages for daily tasks, longer-term goals, books to read, etc. Taking two minutes with a notebook has improved my life, whether I'm planning my evening or jotting down notes about a book I'm reading.
posted by beyond_pink at 7:02 AM on October 11, 2016

Maybe try Ambient Music, like Brian Eno's Thursday Afternoon. I focus on light and color shifts and color mixing, but that's my avocation anyway.
posted by effluvia at 7:26 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Leave the social media abyss (aka phone!) and take a walk, or read a physical book in a separate space. It's hard to get away from that when you have an internet box along for the ride
posted by sacchan at 7:43 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Doodling. Digital Pinball. Helps me to refocus.
posted by Young Kullervo at 11:46 AM on October 11, 2016

Here are some things that I do:

Have a physical book with me to get out of my head for a moment
Smell something amazing like this essential oil roller I have that's mint + lavender
Listen to a playlist of music that chills and refocuses me - right now I have Lush and Chill on Spotify on
Cat/cow in my office, I usually do 10
Get outside and walk around the block and breathe the fresh air
Allow myself a few minutes to connect with one of my coworkers in a positive/social way
Make short notes for an upcoming creative project (I usually have 4-5 of these going at once)
Get up and walk around the building to get myself a cup of tea or coffee
Stretch
Pick one thing in my office that I've been meaning to organize or reorganize and do it (my kick right now is organization and making my life easier, so it really pleases me)
Set a timer on google for 5 minutes and write my best friend a bullet point email about my week/day

Also, sometimes:
Turn off my phone so I can't be distracted by it

I have ADHD Inattentive type so it is very, very easy to be distracted and twitchy and these things all help (see: being on AskMe in the middle of the day.)
posted by fairlynearlyready at 11:49 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]

Go to the office kitchen and spend longer than necessary getting something to drink...

My office is at home, but I do something similar in taking the time to make an impeccable iced coffee with milk and vanilla.

Similarly, I take my time and make the bed as perfectly as possible.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:54 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm all about the knitting and pattern browsing as mentioned above.

In my office, we are lucky enough to have a dedicated corner with windows overlooking the city, which is perfect for a break. On rainy days when that space and the kitchen space are busy, I turn my chair to another table in my cube and do my reading or knitting there. It's surprising how much of a break I can feel by orienting my body in space in another direction, away from my computer screen, doing something different. Especially something creative.

Nthing the poetry suggestion. My personal favorites are Mary Oliver and Tomas Transtromer. I keep them on my Kindle (and one physical copy of Oliver's book in my cube, because, screens).

I like to have small mundane-but-not rituals. For example, instead of tea bags, use loose leaf tea and take your time making it. Or instead of an automatic coffee maker, use a French press if you can. Something that requires a little bit of effort and attention.

Another thing I'll do every once in a while is switch out the pictures in the frames that I have in my cube. It reminds me of the people I love and changes my work space a little bit. I'll also clean my cube - it freshens the space and forces me to get rid of clutter.

There's always Zentangles, if you're minded that way and like to do creative doodles.

Great question, BTW.
posted by onecircleaday at 12:06 PM on October 11, 2016

Silly Putty. Meditation. Go to the hallway water fountain for a drink.

I have a meditation teacher who renounced - formally gave up - waiting. She never waits any more, only rests, relaxes, sits, etc. It's a great mental trick.

And I have an app on my phone that calculates an "addition score" and logs how many times I unlock it. I am very motivated not to see "42 unlocks" at the end of the day, so I always ask myself if it's really worth it.
posted by Cygnet at 11:18 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Yes to doodling. I don't do it personally but I imagine it would be relaxing.
posted by kinoeye at 11:25 AM on October 12, 2016