by Sarah Kelleher 
“Busy” is pretty much a constant state of operation for almost everyone I know. Being busy is almost a status symbol these days, a display of importance and success. But is it healthy? Do we take enough time to be unbusy?
Almost certainly, that answer is “no”. Mindfulness and wellbeing are becoming much more prevalent in many businesses but it is not yet a truly integrated part of workplace culture. Taking time to recharge, recollect and reflect cannot be underestimated in its impact on our adaptiveness and responsiveness in today’s complex environments.
Just a few moments of silence between meetings or tasks could help keep us focused and in control. It doesn’t seem much to ask, but many of us still neglect proper breaks in our working week.
As Nebula emerges from a busy couple of months, I can certainly appreciate the need for a quiet pause.
Recent studies are showing that taking time for silence restores the nervous system, helps sustain energy, and conditions our minds to be more adaptive and responsive to the complex environments in which so many of us now live, work, and lead. Duke Medical School’s Imke Kirste recently found that silence is associated with the development of new cells in the hippocampus, the key brain region associated with learning and memory.