I’m terrible at doing nothing
Look, I’ll admit it right now. I’m terrible at doing nothing. And I’m guessing you are too. We live in a world that glorifies being busy. Like it’s some kinda badge of honor. I remember last Tuesday, my friend Lisa said to me, “You’re always running around, Jane. When do you just… stop?”
And honestly? I didn’t have an answer. Because I don’t know how to stop. I mean, I’ve got a smartwatch that tracks my steps, a fitness app that judges me if I don’t hit 10,000 steps a day, and a to-do list that’s longer than my arm. (Which, by the way, is kinda long. Thanks, Mom.)
But here’s the thing. Doing nothing? It’s not just about sitting on your couch watching Netflix. It’s about giving your brain a break. It’s about letting your mind wander. It’s about… well, I’m not sure what it’s about. But I think it’s important.
Science says so
Okay, fine. Maybe I’m not the best person to be talking about this. So let’s talk about science. There was this study—214 people, I think—about three months ago. They found that people who took time to just sit and think, or daydream, or whatever, were more creative. They were better at problem-solving. They were even happier. (Which, honestly, is probably more than I can say for myself.)
But here’s the kicker. The study also found that most people feel guilty when they’re doing nothing. Like they should be doing something else. Which, honestly, is completley ridiculous. It’s like our brains are wired to feel bad about not being productive. Which is… I don’t know. Depressing?
But how?
So, how do we fix this? How do we become okay with doing nothing? I mean, I’ve tried. I’ve sat on my couch. I’ve stared at the wall. I’ve even tried meditating. (Which, by the way, is way harder than it looks.)
And you know what? It’s hard. It’s really, really hard. Because our brains are used to being stimulated all the time. We’ve got our phones, our tablets, our laptops. We’ve got social media, news alerts, email notifications. It’s like our brains are in a constant state of aquisition. We’re always taking in information. We’re always processing. We’re always… doing.
But here’s what I’ve learned. It’s okay to put the phone down. It’s okay to turn off the TV. It’s okay to just sit and stare out the window. (Which, by the way, is what I did for about 36 hours last weekend. And you know what? It was kinda nice.)
But what about productivity?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Jane, if I stop doing stuff, I’m never gonna get anything done.” And look, I get it. I really do. I mean, I’ve got a job to do. I’ve got deadlines. I’ve got committments. But here’s the thing. Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re not gonna get stuff done. In fact, it’s probably gonna make you more productive.
I remember talking to this guy—let’s call him Marcus—at a conference in Austin a few years back. He was talking about how he used to work all the time. He never took breaks. He never stopped. And you know what happened? He burned out. He was exhausted. He was miserable. But then he started taking breaks. He started doing nothing. And guess what? He got more done than ever before.
So, maybe it’s time we all start taking a page out of Marcus’s book. Maybe it’s time we start doing nothing. Maybe it’s time we start giving our brains a break. (Which, by the way, is what I’m gonna do right now. Because I’m exhausted.)
Oh, and if you’re looking for some strategies to help you find a better balance between work and life, you might want to check out these iş yaşam dengesi stratejileri. They’ve got some pretty good ideas.
A tangent: The art of napping
Speaking of doing nothing, have you ever tried napping? I mean, really tried. Like, not just falling asleep on the couch while watching TV. I’m talking about actual, intentional napping. You know, like they do in Spain. Or Italy. Or, honestly, anywhere that’s not America.
I remember this one time, I was in Barcelona. And I stayed at this Airbnb with a colleague named Dave. And he was all about the siesta. He’d come home for lunch, eat, and then just… sleep. For like two hours. And you know what? He was always so refreshed. So relaxed. So… Spanish.
And look, I’m not saying we all need to start taking siestas. But maybe, just maybe, we could all benefit from a little more sleep. A little more rest. A little more… doing nothing.
So, that’s it. That’s my take on doing nothing. It’s hard. It’s weird. It’s kinda uncomfortable. But it’s important. And honestly, I think we could all use a little more of it in our lives.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a date with my couch. And a wall. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of nothing.
About the Author
Jane Doe is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the magazine industry. She’s written for major publications, covered everything from politics to pop culture, and has a strong opinion on pretty much everything. When she’s not writing, she can be found staring at walls, napping, or trying to convince her smartwatch that she’s actually active. You can find her on Twitter @janedoe or at her website, janedoe.com.
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to forget the importance of relaxation; discover why embracing stillness could be the key to a more balanced life in why we should chill out more.
