Why Someone Told Me Smoking Is Good for Them

For starters, no, I'm not writing this to suggest you start smoking.

But it the title does come from an interesting conversation I had with a member a couple weeks ago.

They were telling me about a part of their day that they genuinely look forward to.

Almost daily, they sit outside, smoke a cigar, and do absolutely nothing else.

No phone.

No emails.

No multitasking.

Just 30 minutes to an hour to unplug, think (or not think), and mentally reset.

It struck me because I think there’s something valuable about the ritual or routine.

It made me think about my own version of it.

Most days after our last session at Core, I take Penny for a walk.

Most of you are now seeing our daily walks as part of our current 26.2 Challenge where everyone walks one mile per day for 26 days.

(Here's my shameless plug for our fundraiser if you haven't donated yet but would like to, click here.)

Some nights though, Penny decides she’d rather lay in the grass and soak up the sun than actually walk anywhere.

So we sit.

For 20 or 30 minutes.

And I try to just be present.

No phone.

No scrolling.

No podcast or music.

Just sitting there with my thoughts while Penny enjoys what I assume is one of the best parts of her day.

I’ve come to realize I need that time too.

Not because I’m physically tired.

But because mentally, it’s a reset.

And I think all of us need something like that.

Our days have become incredibly noisy.

Notifications.

Emails.

Text messages.

Social media.

News.

Podcasts.

Music.

Television.

For many of us, there’s almost never a moment where our brains aren’t consuming something.

We’ve become so accustomed to constant stimulation that silence almost feels uncomfortable.

If we find ourselves waiting in line for two minutes, we instinctively reach for our phones.

If we have five free minutes, we scroll.

We’ve gotten really good at filling every quiet moment.

But I wonder if that’s taking something away from us.

My best ideas and most of my productive thoughts almost never come while staring at a screen.

They’ve come while walking Penny.

Driving with the radio off.

Sitting outside.

Doing nothing in particular.

Those quiet moments give our brains space to process, reflect, and recharge.

There’s actually some research suggesting that periods of quiet wakefulness allow the brain’s default mode "network" to become more active. This "network" is involved in memory, creativity, problem-solving, and self-reflection.

In other words, doing nothing isn’t really doing nothing.

Your brain is still working.

Sometimes it’s doing some of its best work.

I also think these moments help regulate stress.

Instead of constantly reacting to the next notification or the next thing demanding our attention, we give our nervous system an opportunity to slow down.

To breathe, think, and simply exist for a little while.

I’m also becoming more convinced that we need to spend less time glued to our phones.

Not because technology is inherently bad.

It isn’t.

My phone helps me communicate with members, answer emails, navigate traffic, and stay connected with people I care about.

But it’s also incredibly good at competing for my attention.

And if I’m not intentional, it can easily consume time that I’d rather spend doing things that leave me feeling more refreshed and happier.

Walking.

Talking with people.

Being outside.

Or simply sitting in the grass with Penny.

I think we all need a version of that.

Maybe it’s a walk after dinner.

Maybe it’s drinking your morning coffee on the porch before checking your phone.

Maybe it’s gardening.

Fishing.

A quiet drive.

Ten minutes of deep breathing.

Or yes… maybe it’s sitting outside with a cigar.

The activity itself isn’t really the point.

The point is creating intentional moments where you disconnect from everything demanding your attention and reconnect with yourself.

We spend so much time talking about exercise, nutrition, and sleep because they’re essential for our health.

But our mental health deserves that same intentionality.

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do isn’t another workout.

It’s giving your mind permission to be still.

I know I’ll be out in the grass with Penny this afternoon. And taking our one mile walk for our challenge.

(Shameless plug number two: follow us on Facebook or Instagram to follow Penny's 26.2 Challenge journey.)

Find your own reset routine.