HealthyLife Articles

Tag: downtime

Seek Downtime Daily 2

SleepWell® Program

Week 4

Downtime is idle time between activities. Examples are the moments you have waiting at a red light, the time spent riding in an elevator, and the extra time during a lunch break.

Idle time allows your brain to rest and process and store information (how you learn and form memories). If you’ve ever had a great idea come to you in the shower, you know how creative your mind is during this time.

Often, multi-tasking steals this time away. The resulting “addiction to activity” does not let your mind rest during the day. The result can be a feeling of being busy all the time. You may feel like you need “time to think.” If you go all day without downtime, it can be harder to quiet your mind at night and go to sleep.

Practice letting your mind rest every day. If you are used to filling your time with multiple tasks at once, the following exercise may be eye-opening!

Try this: Sit in a room for 15 minutes and do nothing. Don’t look at your phone or seek any other distractions. Let thoughts enter your mind.

Reflect:

How did you feel at the end of 15 minutes?

Natural Ways to Include Downtime Daily

* Turn off notifications on your phone. Set aside time for social media during the day-and avoid it at other times.

* Listen to music instead of the news or talk radio while driving. Or, sit in silence and let your mind wander.

* Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to take five minutes of “blank space” time in your day.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Seek Downtime Daily

Healthylife® Weigh

Part 6

Downtime is idle time between activities. Examples are the moments you have waiting at a red light, the time spent riding in an elevator, or the extra time you have during a lunch break.

Idle time allows your brain to rest, process, and store information (how you learn and form memories). If you’ve ever had a great idea come to you in the shower, you know how creative your mind is during this time. Appreciate downtime to reduce feelings of boredom.

Often, multi-tasking or a feeling that you must always be doing something steals this time away. The resulting “addiction to activity” does not let your mind rest during the day. The result can be a feeling of being busy all the time. You may feel like you need “time to think.” If you go all day without downtime, it can be harder to quiet your mind at night and go to sleep.

Practice letting your mind rest every day. If you are used to filling your time with multiple tasks at once, the following exercise may be eye-opening!

Try This: Sit in a room or outside for 15 minutes and do nothing. Don’t look at your phone or seek any other distractions. Let thoughts enter your mind.

Reflect: How did you feel at the end of 15 minutes?

Ways to Include Downtime Daily

* Turn off notifications on your phone. Set aside time for social media during the day-and avoid it at other times.

* Listen to music instead of the news or talk radio while driving. Or, sit in silence and let your mind wander.

* Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to take at least five minutes of “blank space” time during your day.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
4 Ways To Combat Holiday Stress

WELL-BEING

Nearly 80 percent of people are stressed during the holidays, according to the American Psychological Association. To help keep stress from getting the best of you, try these tips:

Be selective about activities

It’s the time of year for office parties and traditions spent with family and friends. Instead of trying to do it all, choose just a few activities that you know you can handle – and say “no” to the rest. If you’re worried about offending someone, offer to see them another time, such as a lunch date in January.

Remember to take time for yourself

Whether it’s a walk outside, sitting quietly with a favorite book, or a warm bath, you need time to recharge. If you don’t care for your own mental well-being, you may feel more stressed and overwhelmed.

Get plenty of rest

Although you might be tempted to stay up late wrapping gifts or cleaning your house, don’t. Instead, aim to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep. Getting enough sleep helps you to focus and deal with stressful situations.

Have a plan

If you are hosting the family holiday dinner, make a schedule. Plan house cleaning tasks over several days or a week. Make a grocery list and plan to shop a couple of days in advance. Wrap gifts as you buy them, so you’re not trying to wrap everything in one night.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026