It seems to me we do not take enough time to just be. Sometimes when I think I need some time to just sit and do nothing, my thoughts immediately go to how I could either be doing something or that doing nothing seems like a waste of my time.  Indeed, when there is time off from our various work and social obligations, we often feel the need to go and participate in something “fun.”  We feel we must go somewhere, do something, see someone, or experience everything.  We pack, we plan, we fly, we drive, we sightsee, we hike, we eat, we do just about anything but just be.

I think vacations and experiences are important and have their own cathartic, therapeutic effects. But when did vacationing become synonymous with relaxing? They are often not relaxing at all if you consider relaxation to be a calming of your nervous system and senses. There is something really wonderful to being alone with just yourself and your thoughts. I am not referring to meditation. My meditative practice is something that is vastly different from my practice to “just be.” Meditation takes us to new realms, both spiritually and physically.

The practice to just be asks us to be alone with and aware of ourselves. This could even take place in a public setting such as a park or a café, as long as we did not arrive there with someone else. The practice to just be asks us to take note of what we observe of our surroundings, recognize what our judgments are, and acknowledge what labels we place on our experiences. The practice to just be asks us to confront our thoughts, the very ones we often do not have time in our busy lives to ponder. While practicing, we could see if we own alternative perspectives or interesting solutions.

To just be on a regular basis can have a whole host of beneficial effects.  It can improve our memory. We are busy and our lives are so complex, the neurons in our brains often do not have enough time to build and cement the connection that holds our thoughts together. Taking the time to ponder your daily lives and activities can help activate those connections and provide a greater foothold on your memory. At the very least, the practice of just be can help remind ourselves of things we want to do or say.

To just be on a regular basis can improve our sleep. We tend to put off sleep. We are natural creatures who have evolved with circadian rhythms based on night and day. Yet we resist these natural rhythms by integrating other activities into our nights instead of sleep. We keep lights on in the house, we watch television, surf the Internet, play video games, eat, drink, and socialize. Nightfall, or dusk, is a perfect time to just be because it fits with our natural rhythms. It is a time to wind down, and prepare the body and mind for sleep. Alternatively, instead of jumping out of the bed at the first buzz of the alarm, take time in bed in the morning to just be and contemplate the day behind you and the day ahead of you. These methods will help to improve your body’s natural rhythms and ultimately improve your sleeping habits.

Perhaps most importantly, to just be can reacquaint you with yourself. Popular media bombards us with messages telling us who we are, what we like, what we want, or what we don’t want. Taking time to just be will allow you to re-affirm what defines you and your identity. Your definition and your identity are different from any other one individual which is why it is important the practice to just be is a solo practice. We are but one connected to a community. But who we are is up to us.

Ilene S. Ruhoy, MD, PhD was born and raised in New York City. She received her MD from the University of Pittsburgh and her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada. Ilene serves on faculty at Touro University Nevada School of Medicine and lectures at venues across the country on the interconnections between the environment and human health. She is passionate about nutrition as medicine and human well-being. Her next clinical endeavor will be a pediatric neurology residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Having recently relocated with her husband and six year old daughter to Seattle, she is excited to be plugged into the Thrive community. Ilene thrives on helping other people find their way to optimal health and happiness. Ilene can be reached at ilenesue@gmail.com.