Look, I get it
You’re busy. Like, really busy. Your calendar’s packed, your to-do list is a joke at this point, and you’re pretty sure your inbox is sentient and breeding more emails while you sleep. I know because I used to be you. Let’s call me Sarah, 15 years ago, living in New York, committment issues with my planner.
But here’s the thing: I crashed. Hard. It was a Tuesday, 2:17 PM, in a conference room in Austin, Texas. I was giving a presentation, and mid-sentence, I just… stopped. Couldn’t remember what I was talking about. Couldn’t remember why I cared. My colleague Dave looked at me like I’d grown a second head. And honestly? I kinda had. It was the head of a person who’d been running on empty for too long.
So, I quit.
Not my job, not immediately. But I quit the idea that every second had to be productive. That every moment had to be filled with something meaningful. I started doing nothing. And it was awesome.
Now, I’m not saying you should quit your job and become a professional couch potato. But I am saying you should steal some time for yourself. Time to do nothing. Time to just be.
But Sarah, how?
First, you gotta understand something: doing nothing isn’t lazy. It’s not unproductive. It’s necessary. Our brains need downtime to process, to recharge, to make sense of all the stuff we throw at them. And if you’re anything like me, you’re throwing a lot.
So, start small. Like, really small. I’m talking 10 minutes. Set a timer. Sit down. Stare at a wall. Don’t check your phone. Don’t turn on the TV. Just sit. It’ll feel weird at first. You’ll feel guilty. You’ll think, “I should be doing something else.” But fight that feeling. This is important.
And if 10 minutes feels too long, start with 5. Or 2. Or 36 seconds. Whatever works. The point is to give yourself permission to do nothing. To not be productive. To just be.
I remember when I first started doing this, my friend Marcus looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “You’re just gonna sit there?” he asked. “Yeah,” I said. “That’s the plan.” He shook his head, but he didn’t say anything else. And you know what? He started doing it too. Said it changed his life. (Which honestly nobody asked for but here we are.)
But what if I can’t?
I get it. Life’s busy. There’s always something to do, someone to see, someplace to be. But here’s the thing: you can’t pour from an empty cup. And if you’re always running, always doing, always going, you’re gonna burn out. And then you won’t be able to do anything.
So, make the time. Even if it’s just 5 minutes a day. Even if it’s just 36 seconds. Your brain will thank you. Your body will thank you. And you might just find that you’re a little bit happier, a little bit more relaxed, a little bit more you.
And if you’re still not convinced, look, I get it. It’s hard. It’s scary. It’s completley counter to everything we’ve been taught about success and productivity. But trust me, it’s worth it. Just try it. What do you have to lose?
Oh, and if you’re looking for some inspiration, check out trending topics popular discussions. No, seriously, it’s not just about food. It’s about life. And it’s pretty awesome.
So, go ahead. Give it a try. Do nothing. You might just find that it’s the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself.
And hey, if you need me, I’ll be over here, doing nothing. It’s my favorite thing to do.
About the Author: Sarah’s been writing about lifestyle and self-improvement for over 20 years. She’s also a yoga instructor, a terrible cook, and a firm believer in the power of naps. You can usually find her in her pajamas, either writing or doing nothing. She’s @SarahWritesStuff on all the things.
