Why Quiet Moments Might Be The Most Productive Part Of Your Day

There’s something comforting about a quiet moment, isn’t there? It’s a bit of calm in a day that’s otherwise filled with notifications, lists, meetings, and just general stuff to do. And most of the time, we just think of the quiet times like a bit of a pause in the action, when it could actually be a lot more than that. 

It could actually be that the still moments aren’t just little gaps in our schedule (or shouldn’t be, anyway), and that they’re really the most important part of the day. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about why quiet moments might be the most productive part of your day. 

We Don’t Always Need To Be ‘On’

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking productivity has to mean doing something obvious – and constant. After all, we reward packed calendars, emails sent early in the day, and long days without breaks, and if we’re not always doing something, we might assume we’re wasting time. 

But more and more research is showing that rest – and even boredom! – does play a big role in how we think, create, and even how focused we can be. The fact is that when we stop rushing, our minds finally have the time they need to process what’s happening, and that often means better decision-making and clearer, less stressed minds. 

If you’re not sure about all that, just think about how often a good idea pops into your head when you’re doing something completely unrelated – you might be taking the dog for a walk or folding laundry, or perhaps having a shower, for example – and that’s your brain working quietly in the background because it doesn’t have to worry about anything else. 

Mental Space To Think Properly

One of the big things we miss out on when we don’t give ourselves quiet time is reflection – it’s hard to work out what’s working (and what’s not), or even what we need (or want) to do next when our brains are always rushing and being reactive to things – that’s an exhausting state to be in. 

When you actually manage to give yourself a few quiet minutes with no screens and no distractions, you’re basically giving your thoughts that time they need to catch up, and sometimes that’s when the most useful thinking happens. We don’t mean in a big, dramatic way, but we’re talking about small ideas and changes that can really be important when it comes down to it. 

Quiet Doesn’t Mean Idle 

There’s something very important to mention here – quiet doesn’t mean doing nothing at all. What it really means is taking a moment to step away from everything that’s going on around you and away from all the noise that you’ll be surrounded by, even if you don’t realise it. And that’s what gives you time to think at your own pace, and you won’t be under any pressure either. That’s when it becomes a lot easier to solve problems, work through ideas, and – of course – come up with the right solutions for whatever it is you need. 

And sometimes doing something simple and totally absorbing, like tidying up, journalling, or even playing a gentle game of online bridge, can help you change the way you’re thinking and help your mind get into the right place for coming up with the best ideas. These things definitely aren’t you wasting time because it’s actually time your brain needs to do its job properly. The best thing is that you can get things done that need to be done, enjoy what you’re doing, and come out on the other side feeling a lot more focused and refreshed – that’s got to be better than just constantly trying to push through every task you’ve got to do and getting more and more stressed and exhausted as you go. 

Slower Days Mean Sharper Thinking

It can be very hard to step away from the pressure everyone’s under to always be on the go and be doing something productive – it can feel as though you’re falling behind, or perhaps like people are judging you for not working (or not working as hard as you could be). It’s a bad situation to be in, but it’s a situation that doesn’t have to exist. In reality, slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind or getting lost on your route to success – it often means you’re thinking more clearly and that leads to far better decisions being made. 

So what we mean is that when we give ourselves space, we often come back to our work with more energy, and a much better idea of where we’re going and – crucially – how to get there. And in the end, isn’t that what productivity is all about? You don’t have to do more, you just have to do the right things in the right way. 

Busy Doesn’t Mean Better

We’ve built up a strange kind of pride around being busy – it’s often the first thing people say if you ask them how things are going; they’ll tell you how busy they are automatically, as if it’s a good thing or it makes them stand out in some way. 

But of course, as you’ve probably realised by now, busy doesn’t always mean better, and sometimes it actually means worse because you’re stretched so thin, scattered around, and just generally frazzled! So when it comes down to it, the real challenge isn’t necessarily filling every minute… it’s being okay that there are some minutes when you’re not throwing yourself into work. 

Quiet Moments Matter

Some of the most productive people out there are the ones who make sure they get plenty of quiet time, in whatever way that works for them – they understand that working constantly isn’t going to get them where they want to go, and that’s a vital way to live life if you want to make the most of things and, ultimately, get further ahead. 

And what’s great is that once you get used to it, you’ll enjoy those quiet moments and you’ll start to see the benefit, and that’s got to be a good thing.