Sitting Quietly Has Many Benefits

It used to be quite common, sitting quietly. People often spent time sitting on front porches, or in front of the fireplace. Today's fashionable rockers and swings are the descendents of people's efforts to craft the perfect seat for just such a pastime.

In front of our house, on the porch, there is just such a seat. It is part rocker, part swing. Slats of wood screwed onto a frame that is set inside another frame. It has chains bolted on the sides that connect the two frames and allow it to rock, or swing, depending on which type you experienced in childhood, I guess.

In the middle of the seats is a table about a foot across with cup holders built in. I've thought about painting it, as it's slowly wearing away, but it never was stained or painted, and now it seems that might ruin the character.

The biggest tip to sitting quietly then, is to find a good chair. Natural materials like wood or wicker seem to work best for me, but the important thing is that it is comfortable to you.

Besides natural materials, I would recommend something that rocks or swings as well. The motion can be meditative. Remember that sitting quietly doesn't necessarily mean being still. In the past families often sat in front of the fireplace, each person busy reading, or knitting, or carving. It allowed time to decompress and to develop one's skill at something. Every so often a comment might be made and conversation and deepening relationships were the result.

The next tip is to find something you can do while sitting that doesn't require speaking. If you're adept enough, this is not required. It is mentioned here mostly for those who find it difficult to sit quietly.

The use of this is, at its core, simply a way to occupy one's mind. After a time I know that you will find many interesting things to think about. Thinking is actually the best way to sit quietly. Pick a topic: football, work, money, marriage. The importance of sitting quietly is actually that it allows for time to think. Sleep may be a big processor of sensory data, but the mind certainly benefits from some extra conscious help.

The statistics on stress levels in America today are staggering. Americans don't take the time for introspection, for peace and quiet thought. Sitting can naturally help reduce stress levels.

Another activity that will help in sitting quietly is to focus on objects around you. The fly buzzing in the window, the tree branches blowing in the wind, everything around where you're sitting can become a focal point. Don't look away. Let your attention be drawn to whatever comes into focus.

While not negative in and of themselves, things such as music and television should not be a part of sitting quietly. They tend to take up much of the natural thought process and distract the mind from the type of quality thinking that is central to getting benefit from sitting quietly.

Don't forget to find a good spot as well. Porches are always a great place for sitting. There may be a comfy chair in the corner of a little used room. Even an outdoor folding chair placed under a shade tree can become the perfect source for twenty minutes of quiet repose.

Believe it or not, cigar smoking is one of the greatest sitting pastimes. The next time you find yourself in the lobby of an expensive hotel, watch the old men down there slowly savoring their cigars. They enjoy the slow, sensual way the smoke rolls out of the mouth and winds through the air. Padded leather chairs tend to go best with this sort of adventure.

Whatever it is that allows you to sit quietly. Any type of chair or any surroundings can become an enjoyable avenue to relaxation and stress relieving thought. Jacuzzis and pools and saunas are ideal for this type of behavior. Don't neglect your mind and in the process you'll find that your spirit reaches new heights and finds new depths.