What We Lose When We’re Never Still
Clarity, Intuition and so much more.
Ever tried to concentrate when the TV is on, loud noises are coming from a building site next door, and kids are shouting — all at the same time?
We are busier than ever, with constant noise and distractions, and it might feel more productive. However, it has an impact on our brain and nervous system.
Quiet moments without focus, without to-do lists, and without constant distractions are essential for the brain and nervous system to reset. Those moments may seem banal, but they are important and becoming fewer in between nowadays.
We scroll at the bus stop. Watch videos on the tube. Take calls on walks. Track our steps, sleep, and calories with devices — and skip the part where we used to take quiet time to listen to our bodies.
We have outsourced, and slowly lost our connection with, our internal wisdom.
Those in-between moments. The quiet ones. The moments of stillness. The moments where our mind wanders, where we make space between our thoughts. Those moments are the source of creativity, clarity, and intuition and so much more.
From just a few moments of stillness, a savasana, or even a full meditation practice, research has found that these moments can:
activate the “rest and digest” state of the nervous system and lower cortisol
reduce amygdala reactivity and support better emotional regulation
induce neuroplasticity, including increased grey matter in regions related to awareness, regulation, and attention
reduce rumination and anxiety
improve cognitive flexibility, working memory, and mental clarity
You give yourself a chance to hear the whispers of your body, feel your gut instinct, gain clarity, and reconnect with your intuition.
When I started yoga, the most difficult part was always the last two minutes — lying still (savasana), making “space between my thoughts.”
Turns out, it was — and still is — filled with so much wisdom and science-backed benefits.
See if you can find a few moments of stillness in the coming days. Stay curious. It might leave you feeling better than you expected.