Written By - Sumita Sarkkar
There, the phone buzzes again! Another message to answer, another meeting to attend, another headline to read, another task waiting to be completed. How busy our lives have become! Or has it?
We reach for our phones while waiting for a lift, check messages or social media updates in the lift or the reception, listen to music while walking, talk on the phone while driving, check emails while eating.
When did you last drink a cup of tea without turning it into a multitasking session, had dinner without watching any OTT, drove without talking on the phone? That sounds incredibly simple, but if you actually try it, you will realize just how restless your mind really is.
We have forgotten how to just sit still. Silence has become something we rush to escape. Even moments that were once naturally empty have been filled. We have become so dependent on technology that we become restless even for those few moments that we stand in a line for coffee or wait for the lift. Why do we shy away from empty spaces, stillness, thoughtlessness? And then scream at our family members – “I need space!”
Empty space is not a problem that needs fixing. Having space does not mean being away from our people.
We have turned silence into something uncomfortable—something we rush to escape. In reality, stillness isn't about doing absolutely nothing or locking yourself in a quiet room. It is simply about paying attention. It is about not reacting. It is about being thoughtless, even if it is for few minutes.
Most of our exhaustion does not come from physical hard work. It comes from the fact that we never let our mind rest. We are exhausted, yet are unable to sleep peacefully. Physical exhaustion gives us a good night’s sleep while mental exhaustion does not let us sleep in peace. We carry yesterday’s arguments, tomorrow’s deadlines, and a running tally of life’s expectations everywhere we go.
Stepping away from that noise gives you room to breathe. Pause just once and, you will start to notice the things you have been ignoring on autopilot: that you are bone-tired, that a close relationship needs a real conversation, or that a major decision you made does not actually feel right anymore.
Stillness does not magically fix your problems. It does something better: it gives you enough distance to look at them without panicking.
There is a reason almost every ancient tradition emphasizes meditation or quiet contemplation. The goal was never to permanently escape reality. It was to step away just long enough to return to real life with a clear head.
And for this, you don’t need to go on a digital detox or disappear into a forest. A few quiet minutes at your desk is a perfectly fine place to start. In a world that demands you move faster every single day, choosing to slow down is not lazy. It is a radical boundary.
Sometimes, doing absolutely nothing is the best use of your time. It is how you remember who you are when you are not busy trying to prove your worth. Doing nothing for a while is not wasting time. It gives clarity and rejuvenates you to continue your routine with renewed enthusiasm. And when you do this, you will notice the physical and mental fatigue gradually diminish.
So, when are mastering the art of being still?
(Coming up with a sequel shortly)
(The author is a seasoned journalist, life coach, into alternate healing therapies, nutritionist, fitness and adventure sports enthusiast, and long-distance runner)