Are we ever really doing nothing? I mean, aside from when you sleep, how often are you really even still? My life right now feels full. But, if I am being honest, my life has always felt full. From the minute that I wake up, to when my head hits the pillow, my time is accounted for. Each task that needs to be completed is meticulously tracked on a piece of paper that has my schedule for the day. I do make time for meditation and breathwork, for journaling and walks outside…but nothingness? No, never. If a moment, a block of time, is unfilled, my inclination is to fill it, as is exemplified by my calendar below:
My propensity towards busyness is driven by several factors. There is, of course, my ego who assures me that busy people are worthy people. If I am busy then it means I am important, that I am “really doing things” with my life. Then there are my own goals and aspirations, which drive me to sign up for another class, or take up a new hobby. And finally, there is the fact that sitting in stillness is so damn uncomfortable! My mind instantly jumps to all that I still need to do, all that I must finish before I am really allowed to enjoy a few moments of nothingness.
The problem is, the list is never complete. There is always more that I could do. As a result, the moment of well deserved nothingness never really arrives. Instead, I hit the lights and it all starts again the next day. This has the effect of leaving me frazzled, fragmented and never fully present.
Doing nothing is a hot topic right now. In a culture that views busyness as a sign of status, we are seeing unprecedented rates of anxiety, depression and burnout. Influencers abound (and myself) tout the importance of things like meditation, mindfulness and yoga to counteract this busyness and promote wellness. And I absolutely believe these practices help. But what about true stillness…moments of nothingness? Research is pointing towards this as a more impactful remedy.
What does it mean to do nothing?
The New York Times defines doing nothing as “no other plan than to just be”. One of the side effects of doing nothing is daydreaming, which has the benefit of “making us more creative, better at problem solving, and better at coming up with creative ideas” [New York Times]. Who doesn’t want more of that? I mean, think about some of humanity’s greatest philosophers! They had an abundance of idle time and solitude.
Doing nothing is surprisingly hard. In fact, there was a study done with results that illustrate just how challenging it is for people to sit in stillness, alone, “People were put in a room and asked to just be with themselves, and they were given the option of just sitting by themselves or electrically shocking themselves – a huge percentage chose to shock themselves” [ShondaLand.com]. Sitting in stillness goes against the productivity that has been ingrained in us.
While doing nothing may be challenging, it is also a worthy pursuit. Feeling creative and inspired beats frazzled and fragmented any day. Through my own reading on this topic, several suggestions around how to implement nothingness really stood out to me.
Make Time for Doing Nothing:
Just as we make time for other important aspects of our lives, we need to make time to do nothing. Instead of grabbing your phone to scroll while waiting for your gym class to begin, what if you simply sat for a minute or two and did nothing? Instead of unloading the dishwasher between zoom calls, give yourself five minutes of nothingness. Each moment needn’t be filled with productivity. Even if it is just 10 minutes, this time spent in nothingness supports you.
Expect that it Will Feel Uncomfortable [at first]:
Especially if you are used to being in constant motion, doing nothing will feel uncomfortable. That is okay. Many beneficial, value adding practices are uncomfortable when we first begin. With time it will get easier and I bet you will even begin to look forward to it.
Nothing – Anything that isn’t Meant to be Productive:
If sitting in stillness, gazing out a window, really isn’t your jam, then expand your concept of nothingness. Nothing means anything done without the intention of producing. It could mean going for a walk, coloring in a coloring book, putsing in your garden. As long as you’re doing these things with no goal in mind, allowing your brain to rest and wander, then you’ll receive many of the same benefits.
Now, for me, a person who rarely ever sits still, who almost always has a mile long list of things I’d like to complete, the idea of doing nothing is tough to swallow. But, I will try. I think I must try.
What about you? Do you live a life that feels tied to a to-do list? Controlled by the clock? Do you hit your pillow at night and wonder where the day went? If yes, I encourage you to embrace nothingness with me. Ask yourself:
- What does being busy do for me?
- How does being busy impact me?
- How might I add more moments of nothingness to my day?
- How might these moments of nothingness benefit me?
As the wise Pooh says, “Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear and not bothering.” – Pooh’s Little Instruction Book
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