I’m terrible at doing nothing. But I know it’s a valuable practice. So I make time to do it on purpose. People are used to saying, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” It doesn’t make sense when your “something” is, well, nothing. We’re all wired for action. We’re supposed to be productive, efficient, and always moving. That’s why “nothing” is so hard to do. Our brains are used to the noise, movement and the distractions. But sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing.
You might be thinking, “It sounds nice, but I don’t have time for that.” But I’d argue that you don’t have time not to do it. Because it’s a reset button. You’re not wasting time; you’re giving your brain time to recharge. I like what director and screenwriter Federico Fellini once said, “If there were a little more silence, if we all kept quiet…maybe we could understand something.” For most people genuine, intentional stillness doesn’t come easy. Can you sit, breathe, and let your thoughts drift? Plain old zoning out can do wonders for our minds. It’s quality space to recharge. Listen to yourself. And just be for a little while.
But it’s hard.
That’s why I also use “pockets of stillness” throughout the day to practice it. I might take a few minutes to sit in silence before I start working. I might go for a walk without looking at my phone. Sometimes I just watch the clouds go by. Not just any cloud. I prefer sunrises and sunsets. It’s beautiful if you can time it right. You can practice it however you want. One small habit at a time. Pick a spot, ditch your phone, and just be. You’ll see what I mean.
Doing nothing applies everywhere.
You’re stressed about work? Step back. Do nothing for ten minutes. The chaos will untangle itself. Kids driving you nuts? Find a way to flow with them. They like to run wild. And sometimes want you to join in. These days I’ve stopped trying to keep up with my daughters. I enjoy their energy more. I use that space to feel alive again.
Give your mind a break, and it will reward you.
As the poet Rumi said, “The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” When I stop, I hear myself. I reconnect with myself. I get back within. I’m loving my doing nothing time. It’s not dead time — it’s meaningful time if I let it be. I find clarity in the quiet, and answers in the stillness. In my quiet space, I see what truly matters. I can hear myself think. You can too. Make quality time outside your busy calendar to just be. Fight the “always-on” habit. Sit down. Stare out the window. Let the world spin without you for a bit. As I’ve figured out, sometimes doing nothing is the meaningful thing to do.
“Some of us need to discover that we will not begin to live more fully until we have the courage to do and see and taste and experience much less than usual… And for a man who has let himself be drawn completely out of himself by his activity, nothing is more difficult than to sit still and rest, doing nothing at all. The very act of resting is the hardest and most courageous act he can perform. — Thomas Merton
Doing nothing may have a bad reputation, but it’s actually a gift. It’s how your brain switches gears from doing, responding, and reacting to just being. That’s why the world’s genius minds swear by silence and stillness. Albert Einstein took long walks to think. Bill Gates goes on “Think Weeks” where he isolates himself just to reflect. “If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish,” Charles Dickens once said.
Doing nothing — it’s like a secret habit I’m getting used to.
The more I lean into it, the more it feels like the right thing to do. Sometimes it feels like a rebellion. But I’d rather be “busy” recharging than burning out. Doing nothing gives me perspective. If you feel like you are drowning, the descendthing to do is to step away. Stare at a tree or something. You’ll feel better. And there are even more benefits — it makes me better for other people. I’m listening more.
I’m more with it, alive, for the people I love.
I will end this with a quote from writer A.A. Milne. He notes, “Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” You don’t need a fancy meditation app or a retreat. Just stop. Right now, even. Look around. Let your brain off the hook. I promise, it’s not nothing — it’s everything. As the writer Alan Watts put it, “The meaning of life is just to be alive.” You don’t always have to do to matter. Sometimes, just being is good enough. Don’t just catch yourself doing nothing. Plan to do nothing. It means you’re remembering how to be human.
It might be the most meaningful thing of all.