No Agenda

It's been a year since I scheduled my first Mental Health Day and wrote about it. What started as a Linkedin post about burnout has morphed into monthly-ish encouragement for subscribers to prioritize themselves. As I visualized what's next for Mentally, I'm Here, the experience strategist in me believed it was time to turn newsletter words into action. As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM), the typical well-intended reminder just wasn't enough. I felt called to do much more, and a new event series was born.

While curating this in-person gathering, I wanted attendees to unplug without pressure. I considered hosting yoga or meditation sessions for folks to decompress, but there are still barriers to such wellness activities that can exclude potential participants. I also contemplated what I personally needed the most this month. Since I'm at the point in my life where if something is not on my calendar, it won't get done. Allocating time on my schedule for nothing was imperative. Considering all these factors, I orchestrated "No Agenda," the do-nothing wellness event.

When was the last time you arranged downtime?

If you need someone to binge-watch a new series with, look no further, but I seldom felt refreshed after finishing a season or show in one day. To give my brain the rest it truly deserves, I cut out the overstimulation activities, and I invited 40+ people to join me. Creating space for millennials in the nation's capital, to add nothing to their to-do list definitely presented it's fair share of challenges, especially for creators who rarely can "turn it off." I received a few inquiries regarding how we would spend our 2 hour and 30 mins together (which I declined to answer). Still, they showed up for themselves, and I could not be more proud. For any newbies to this newsletter, I'm a Peerspace ambassador, so I seamlessly searched for an event space that was aesthetically spacious with access to an outdoor area. My favorite part of this event was the solitude sofa. I was conscious that some attendees might prefer silent socialization, so I designated an area for guests to sit with others who preferred not to engage in conversation. One unexpected outcome from this unconventional wellness event that I'm still beaming about the most is that I rarely saw anyone on their phone. . Huge win.

Society tends to misdiagnose periods of doing nothing as laziness, as we notably comprehend battery capacity with electronics. Without adequate recharging methods, the connection to human beings operating as machines is lost. Powering down our minds has multiple benefits, including reversing the stress hormone cortisol, which raises blood pressure and intensifies muscle tension when we are constantly on the go.?

This community has been nothing short of amazing, and you've earned the right to exclusive information from this well-being creator. My next engagement will be on Thursday, August 15th, National Relaxation Day. Whether you're in the DMV area or not, your marching orders on the last day of (MHAM) are to block off your calendars and give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing.?