Adopting Non-Doing as your new habit

Posted on | by bettechamberlin

 

The thought of learning to UNDO over-efforting goes against our cultural values put in place centuries ago.  We’ve heard the expression no pain no gain for people who work out.  You can’t get ahead without pain.  And most of us value doing something, moving towards a goal often without prioritizing, just to stay busy. Our Protestant ethic encourages hard work often in the absence of self-care.

Given this orientation, everyone can benefit from a serious exploration of NON-doing and equating it with good health.  A case in point is my experience working with students who have habituated over-efforting and continuously adopted it as the ‘right’ way to function.  The good news is that, through their lessons, they have opened themselves up to understanding what is helpful muscular effort and what is harmful muscular effort.

Here are 3 steps to Adopting Non-Doing as your new habit:

  1. Become aware of inefficient habits.  During the day, can you notice when you tighten your neck/shoulders, compress your lower back and/or stop breathing?  But don’t judge it, It is just a habit that is, well….a habit. Become aware of holding on, which is like bracing.  Let go and breathe.
  2. Use the floor to support your feet, the support of your chair bottom in sitting and the whole support of your seat back. Use a pillow behind you to assist you to be more effortlessly upright.  When standing, ground and spread your feet and toes against the ground, imagine your head and torso going up. Notice if you are  bracing.  Again let go.
  3. Do some lying down work daily.  Here is my free recording of “Constructive Rest”.  Do this daily for 10  minutes.  Just think ease.

You may need some hands-on assistance with Adopting Non-Doing.  I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation.  973 432 5815.

Or you can fill out the contact form and I will get back to you within 24 hours or less.

“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”
― F. M. Alexander

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