It is no secret that we live in a hypertructured world.
Productivity is worshiped, schedules are carefully designed but usually overbooked, and leisure is seen as a luxury, rather than a necessity. But here is the deal: you are more than your productivity, and sometimes you just need dillydally.
More often than not, dillydally is seen in a negative light, which describes an otherwise waste of time due to determination or doubt. But in a new Viral TiktokContents Dasia Smith (@Sweirdest) changes the story and encourages others to come out and literally dillydally.
“As a student who also works a very demanding full-time job, dillydallying is a necessity for me, as it is about prioritizing myself and taking a breathing,” the 26-year-old tells PS. “With everything happening in the world, it’s sometimes ok to do nothing structured or serious and just take time off.”
And she’s right. A lot is happening in the world, and frankly in this economy we can all use some Levity and some speechless hike. In fact, PS intentionally supports dillydally so much, we would even dare say that it is the new “Hot girl walk. “So, dear readers, come in, we go dillydally.
Experts displayed in this article:
Maddison RotnerCPT, is a certified personal trainer and soul cycle instructor.
Kiana SheltonLCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with Mindpath Health.
Dillydally, explained
As you may imagine, there is no hard and quick definition for dillydally. Instead it is about taking intentional time for yourself to RelaxThe decompressThe exploreAnd see where the wind takes you. “That’s when you have no plans, you get out of your house and you just take a walk,” Smith says. “Personally, my favorite way is to dillydally to stop at different coffee and patisseries, or find a free, open park to just hike and have a good time.”
In other words, there is no right or wrong way to dillydally. “You have everything to achieve, and nothing to prove, so remove the pressure of yourself,” says Maddison Rotner, CPT. “Instead of focusing on the end result or final destination, you get to enjoy the process and journey with dillydally, because you actively choose to go out and do something that positively affects you.”
The benefits of dillydally
In its core, dillydallying is a call to gentle movementThat activates the parasympathetic nervous system and moves us to a calmer, more grounded state, says Kiana Shelton, LCSW. “As a mental health professional, I see dillydally as an important part of holistic well -being, because it teaches us new ways to listen to our body and honor our need for slowness.”
And this need for slowness can do wonders for your mental health. More than anything enables an imprisoned hike mental decompression and creative thinking, but Shelton says it also triggers the release of natural, mood -seeking endorphins. “Even at a quiet pace you can come out and move improve your Mental healthAnd exposure to sunlight also provides much needed vitamin D, which is important for mood control, she says.
The disorganized concept of dillydally also drives back on the notion that you always have to maximize your time and be productive, which is (unfortunately) deeply intervened in society. “If my day is not stacked or planned for a T, I sometimes feel that I should and/or can do more, but I have learned that slowly is the fastest way to get where you want to be,” says Rotner. “It’s easy to forget, but it’s a privilege to be able to slow down and do what feels genuine to you, so we all should all dillydally.”
Shelton agrees to note that dillydally reminds us that it is simply enough. “Dillydallying is about letting go, which can be a tough sale, but intentional rest Is also productive, she says.
In addition to improving your mental health, dillydally also has some physical benefits. Whether you walk through a park or explore a new neighborhood, you keep moving, in the end Strengthen your muscles and Reinforcing cardiovascular fitnessSays Rotner. “I support all the movement that makes someone happy, as long as it is safe, and if the only way someone will move is by dillydally, then let’s dillydally.”
Everything said, Smith is clear on something. In a world that constantly drives us to do more, dillydallying is a small but radical action that recognizes that it is ok to be spontaneous and it is ok to meander, walk and roam. “Dillydallying is a reminder that joy, rest and slowness are not traps to make you unproductive,” says Shelton. “Sometimes the best things in life come from the moments we didn’t plan.” So with that, go out there and dillydally to the desire of your heart.
Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and degree from Emory University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan and elsewhere. She is a mass consumer of social media, former collegiate pole vaults and cares about holistic wellness and non-stigmatizing reproductive care.
