In our busy lives, slowing down and stopping can be a powerful catalyst for creative output, says Ali Heath. Time to celebrate the importance of just ‘being’.

When was the last time you stopped? I mean totally stopped, and gave yourself permission to relax, be, and let the day unfold with no specific agenda? It’s a hard one, isn’t it? – and something I have often struggled with prioritising, even though I know the benefits are great when you do.

Yet, with so many of us juggling a mix of work, family, ageing parents, menopause, the upkeep of our home, busy social lives and time invested in keeping up with social-media platforms, the hours left to find time truly for ourselves, or to disconnect, can be easily overlooked. To the point that always being busy is how friends, family and colleagues start to define you.

Yesterday, I took a guilt-free window to sit in the garden and read. With our daughter now living in London, our son leaving early with friends for their eagerly awaited end of A-Levels holiday, and my husband out enjoying golf – Sunday stretched out before me with the rare joy of no commitments.

A friend had sent me a copy of Tanya Sarne’s new memoir, Free Spirit, to take on holiday, but I couldn’t resist dipping into it – having been a huge fan of her fashion brand, Ghost, back in the 90s. It’s a long time since I have read a book in a day, but I couldn’t put it down and, for the first time in a very long while, I forgot about all the jobs that needed doing and lost myself in the pages.

That feeling of total immersion without distraction is a gift. It takes us out of our usual headspace into a different world that opens all sorts of thoughts and creative ideas. I felt inspired, enriched, rested, sun-kissed and completely rejuvenated. Since lockdown, I have written three books back-to-back and the line between weekdays and weekends has often blurred, as the act of creating something becomes all consuming. Consequently, it has provoked a conscious desire to carve back more time for me – being, not always doing.

In our modern, connected world, there is a lot of pressure to be constantly busy. We are bombarded daily with messages about the importance of achievement and success – the implication being that success is inextricably linked to us being connected and on the go. In doing so, our minds have become so full. The calm ripples that should be present in our thoughts can often turn to huge, indomitable waves, and can lead to overwhelm, affecting our wellbeing and ability to be totally present in our relationships.

I have recently been listening to The Michael Singer Podcast [author and founder of yoga and meditation centre, The Temple Of The Universe] on repeat. In episode one, Singer talks very eloquently about “ceasing to be caught in the water of mind” – learning, instead, to deal with what comes our way, then moving on and reinstating a sense of calm. It’s powerful and very much worth a listen.

Learning to calm our minds and giving ourselves permission to rest and rejuvenate, is important not only for our wellbeing, but also for our productivity. When it becomes part of a regular pattern of behaviour, it can lead to an exponential rise in our own creativity and output. Forget the importance of downtime, and it can lead to burn-out and a reduced sense of self.

My best ideas happen when I go for a swim, walk in nature, or potter in the garden – in the early morning hours before anyone else is awake. I turn off the radio and my phone, and it allows my head the space it needs to still. I am a firm believer that these times are a form of meditation and are as powerful as the act of choosing to sit and engage in traditional meditative exercises.

We have grown up in the UK, believing doing nothing is tantamount to being idle, or lazy. The reality is far from that. In fact, I would go so far to say that by mindfully disengaging with the day-to-day for certain periods, it enables you to flourish – and there is much to be said for the practices of Hygge, Fika, Shinrin-yoku, and siestas in other cultures. Creativity, happiness and success need you to feel rested for them to come alive. I never worry if I am having an off-day writing – I simply shut my Mac and do something totally unrelated, knowing full well it is the universe telling me to stop pressurising myself. Allow things space and they usually flow in half the time.

When you give yourself permission to just ‘be’, our sense of curiosity is also piqued. We notice the small things: the sounds of nature, the feeling of the elements on our skin, the way things smell and make us feel; and it helps to recalibrate our heads about what is important.

Learning to carve out time, whether an hour, a day or a full holiday is investing in our own self-care and future. If your head says you need a short nap or encourages you to put your feet up and open the book, do it without feeling guilty! If you want to rekindle a love of cooking, or long to pick up sewing again – make the time. Your family will thank you for it. Sometimes it can be as earnest as bringing simple rituals into your everyday; lighting a candle, making yoga or breathing practices part of your daily escape, or relaxing in an indulgent bath each evening.

There is no right or wrong thing to do with our rest time, it is simply about slowing down, allowing ourselves the opportunity to reconnect with the world around us, and doing what feels good for you. And when you unleash your ability to rest who knows what new discoveries and directions you may happen upon unexpectedly.

Ali Heath is an interiors expert – journalist, stylist, creative consultant and interior designer. Her new book, Create: At Home With Old & New (Mitchell Beazley) is out now.

It is not about being lazy or idle. It is about disconnecting and recharging, so you can live a more fulfilling and enjoyable life. Try the app Insight Timer for motivational guided meditations to help you on your way.

The 80:20 rule is a good one and will help free up time for you.

When you make space for yourself, you learn to see things with fresh, inquisitive eyes.

It is not all about money, it is about the legacy and impact you leave on those around you. And how much you remember enjoying and feeling present in your own life.

Not the one you feel pressurised to create. When you let go of distractions you can be your authentic self.