The Lost Art of Stillness in a Hectic World

Title: The Lost Art of Stillness in a Hectic World

Reference : 📖 [The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer 

In a world obsessed with hustle, we’ve forgotten how to be still. Not just physically—but mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Silence now feels like a void we rush to fill with noise: a podcast, a playlist, a scrolling session on Instagram.

 We call it productivity, but often, it’s just distraction.
I only started noticing this when I read Pico Iyer’s quietly brilliant book .

The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere. In it, Iyer—a travel writer—makes the case that some of the most meaningful journeys happen not through miles but through moments.

 He writes:
> “Going nowhere... isn’t about turning your back on the world; it’s about stepping away now and then so that you can see the world more clearly and love it more deeply.

>  Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness

That line hit me like a small truth bomb. I’d been doing the opposite—cramming my days with back-to-back meetings, my nights with media. I thought that meant I was engaged. But I was just distracted.

I started experimenting with stillness—ten minutes in the morning with no phone, no coffee, just breathing. No agenda. At first, I felt stupid. But then... something shifted. I started noticing small things again.

 The weight of sunlight on my arms. The way my breath softened my anxiety. It wasn’t magic. But it felt like remembering something ancient and necessary.

Stillness won’t fix your life. But it might remind you that you're already alive.
If you're curious, I recommend Iyer’s book. It’s small—less than 100 pages—but dense with insight.

Some Days Are Just Hard — And That’s Completely Okay"

                                                        

When the Days Feel Heavy

Some days are just hard — and that's okay.

You don’t have to fix everything. You just have to make it through.

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💭 Lighten Your Mood

Ever wake up tired even after a full night of sleep?

Your body feels slow, your thoughts messy. Everything seems louder or more irritating than usual. And sometimes, you can’t even explain why.

That’s completely normal.

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I used to fight those days. I slap on a fake smile and try to power through like nothing was wrong. But inside, I was falling apart — exhausted, anxious, and drained from pretending to be fine."

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🧠 The Science Behind Low-Energy Days

Did you know our mood and energy are closely tied to our circadian rhythm — your internal biological clock?

🧬 According to research published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, disruption in sleep cycles or chronic stress can throw off this rhythm, causing emotional imbalance and fatigue even if you're technically "rested."

In other words, feeling off doesn’t always mean something is wrong with you — it may just be your nervous system asking for a reset.

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🛑 Now I Pause Instead of Pushing

I ask myself:

“What do I need today?

• Maybe its a real meal, not just coffee and crackers.

• Maybe its a nap.

• Or maybe... I just need quiet. No notifications. No pressure. Just space to feel what I feel.

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💪 Surviving Is Enough

Not every day is meant for productivity. Some days are just for surviving — and that is enough.

We don't give ourselves enough credit for the small things:

• Getting out of bed when it feels impossible

• Smiling when you feel empty

• Crying — and still carrying on

That’s not weakness. That’s strength.

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🧘‍♀️ You Deserve Rest

Rest is not a reward for success.
It’s a requirement for being human.

So today:

• Drink some water

• Breathe deeply

• Put down the mental load you’re not meant to carry

• Let the world be messy for a bit

You be okay.
Not because everything is fixed, but because you are still here. And that counts for something.

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🌿 A Gentle Reminder

Not everyone will understand your silence. That’s okay.

Don’t waste your energy proving your worth to others.
Find the people who lift you up — they are out there.

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💬 Final Thoughts

You are not invisible.
You matter.
And you are doing better than you think.

Mistakes are part of growth. Don’t fear them.
Let them teach you — not break you.

Life is short.
Be curious. Be kind. Be alive.
And most of all — be gentle with yourself.

other post :

 

Building healthier habits does not mean you need to be perfect. Some days will be harder than others, and that’s completely okay. If your feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, you might find comfort in our post Some Days Are Just Hard — And That’s Completely Okay. And remember — You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Enough. Your effort matters, and so do you.