As a business leader, you have an endless list of chores to complete and work to do, but it doesn’t seem like enough time is on your side. Over the last 20 years, we’ve created an always-on culture of relentless productivity. Everything has become urgent, and we feel guilty about any time wasted. We live to work when we should work to live. The truth is we need boredom. We need stillness. We need to not constantly move, produce, and seek out the next stretch goal. Wasting time is highly fulfilling and necessary for all business leaders. This blog post will discuss why business leaders benefit from wasting time and how it is critical to increasing productivity.
Why Wasting Time Is Good for Business Leaders
Most business leaders are driven by success and winning. They are go-getters who like to be productive and always move forward. Unfortunately, this approach to work can often lead to a fast-paced, always-on lifestyle that is detrimental to their well-being and creativity. Wasting time can help break up the day and allow business leaders to relax and rejuvenate to be more productive when they return to work. Business leaders benefit from wasting time because they increase their well-being, creativity, and productivity.
Wasting time can also help business leaders to come up with new ideas. When you’re constantly in motion, it isn’t easy to take the time to reflect on your work and come up with new ideas. However, if you’re able to relax and take a break, you’ll be more likely to come up with new ideas when you return to work. Business leaders benefit from wasting time because it helps them develop new ideas for old problems.
The Benefits to Business Leaders of Wasting Time
Rest allows us to think better and be more creative. Wasting time helps us embrace new perspectives to find better solutions to the problems we need to solve. Wasting time helps us make better decisions because it improves our objectivity which helps us evaluate the pros and cons more effectively. Business leaders benefit from wasting time in the following areas:
- Relaxing and rejuvenating your mind and body
- Allowing your brain to rest and rejuvenate
- Gaining a different perspective on problems or challenges
- Encouraging creativity and new ideas
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Improving productivity
Tips to Waste More Time
Many business leaders suffer from a frantic pursuit of productivity, so they can’t rest. When going for a walk in nature, reading a book or news article, taking a day off, or watching a movie, their brains continue to focus on their task lists. As a result, they can feel guilty, and even worse, aren’t present. So here are three tips business leaders can use to benefit from wasting time in 2022:
1. Allow yourself to take breaks more often.
When you’re constantly working, it’s easy to get lost in your tasks and lose track of time. So make sure to take regular breaks throughout the day, even if it’s just for five minutes. Business leaders benefit from wasting time by taking short, frequent breaks, so you stay fresh and focused.
2. Set aside specific days or blocks of time for wasting time.
If you make a conscious effort to set aside downtime, you’ll be less likely to feel guilty about it. For example, try blocking off a few hours on the weekend or after work on weekdays to waste time.
3. Allow yourself to daydream more often.
Daydreaming is a great way to waste time. Additionally, daydreaming improves problem-solving and helps your mind get creative. Business leaders benefit from wasting time by allowing their minds to wonder.
2022 is the year business leaders should embrace wasting time because the benefits are clear. Wasting time is time spent well because it helps improve creative thinking, problem-solving, increases objectivity, and rejuvenates the body and mind. As a result, business leaders are better prepared to deal with the barrage of chaos from their never-ending task list.
How do you waste time? Share your tips in the comments below!
