Dream your summertime dreams: do more by doing nothing

Lynn O'DowdGoGaGa News

Don’t worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right”
–Three Little Birds, Bob Marley

Summer is here! What song comes to mind that makes you feel like it’s summer? Start playing it now to help you relax and play!

I just returned from vacationing on Marco Island, Florida. Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds was playing on the beach; and for me, that carefree feeling of “Don’t worry…every little thing gonna be all right” defines summer.

While relaxing under an umbrella and swimming in the ocean (well actually bobbing with a styrofoam noodle), I was reminded that slowing down and taking time to catch our breath actually allows us to flourish, like plants in a garden when we water them slow and steady. The plants grow faster and healthier because the water has time to soak in, like summer’s sense of peace.

If taking time off feels uncomfortable or impossible, you have my permission to recharge and relax. Working longer and harder does not necessarily equate to more success. Time off is good for your productivity, your creativity, and your overall wellbeing. Research suggests that we work harder, perform better, are more creative, make healthier choices, and have more enthusiasm for our work after we take time off.

In fact, workers who took more than 10 of their vacation days increased their chance of receiving a raise or bonus by 65.4%. Why? Because taking breaks gives your brain a chance to catch up and reorganize. A relaxing and playful vacation helps to make you more inventive because you are exposed to new and different experiences. Without recovery periods, your ability to continue performing at high levels decreases significantly.

Do you remember the last time you were okay with taking time to do nothing?

During these weeks of summer, give yourself the gift of slowing down your activity and thoughts to get a clearer focus on what you’d like to accomplish moving forward. Pick your favorite leisure activity, play your favorite summer song, and begin dreaming! Take a listen: https://bit.ly/2Q23Hax

About Lynn
After not singing for 35 years – in a moment of madness – I answered an ad to be a singer in a Rock’n’Roll band… and got the gig. I share my story about how stepping out of my comfort zone and getting a little outrageous has changed my life.

I want everyone I reach to experience the same transformation through the “GoGaGaTM” process I’ve developed to help attendees Unleash their “Inner Superstar” and realize that it’s never too late to bust through their fears to perform at levels they never thought possible. My talk takes people from “I can’t” to “I can” in 45 to 60 minutes – with my special brand of entertainment with a message. Click here to download my speaker one-sheet, and book me for your next event.