I love this! Totally can relate. I think the hardest advice I was given once was to try to sit and do nothing for 10 minutes every day. Not even looking at the phone. Very hard as well in productive driven societies where our attention is always solicitated. Great piece!
Oh number 6 for sure!! But in general when I struggle with "doing nothing" I try to remind myself that doing nothing is it's own form of productivity and nourishment! I can't just keep going going going, because then I'll burn out. So being able to relax is crucial to doing anything else, and what's more, to enjoy actually Living.
Hi Alexis...I think doing nothing is the source of most of the great advances in human history. Nothing is the space in which inspiration comes... a place just the other side of thinking :) I know walking is not nothing...but walking just for walking, just because I am walking is as close to nothing as I can find that is a kind of doing but qualifies in the nothing category. It is my way of doing nothing. 🙂
That’s a great point. Walking is a great way to feel like you’re still moving forward (or doing something) if it’s hard to sit still. I also enjoy walking and should probably do it more!
It’s funny how we’ve made to believe subconsciously that doing nothing is us wasting time. That’s a different story for me as a mother. But even before motherhood I remember jotting to dos every hour of the day. And feeling bad if I missed something. The one good thing that motherhood made me do is to slow down and prioritize so that I enjoy those times in between when I can just sit and “do nothing” even if it’s for a few minutes.
I can't wait to get there! I mean to a place where I can enjoy the moments in between more. I want to, but I always feel like I need to fill those moments. It feels like, slowly, I'm getting better at it though. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh my gosh 100% I think we're all saying to reject the hustle culture but subconsciously we are still following it. When I think of life pre internet days it was a lot of doing nothing but it didn't feel like doing nothing because everyone around you was also doing nothing and it was fine. There was no anxiety of doing nothing.
Now we can see these extraordinary individuals (like Bill Gates or Beyonce) activities and we feel like we have to match it to be "successful". But is that the only definition of successful? And I don't think they can keep up with the pressure (I mean how many breakdowns have we seen?).
It's a tricky thought to wrestle. I struggle with it all the time! I do see the anti productive moment on Substack/social media but it's kinda counterproductive because we're trying to do nothing but we're still pressured to create content 😅 my brain hurts
I relate to everything you shared here, Ellina! I'm in the process of redefining what success means to me and I think it's helping (at atleast a bit!)... I recently enjoyed reading Emma Gannon's book The Success Myth. You might also like it!
ooo yeah she has a great Substack and I'm reading her Multi-Hyphen book now. The Success Myth is next. Hope you're able to define success for yourself! It's so valuable once you do. All the best!
That's a good question, and I cracked it later in life. For the longest time, I'd feel guilty doing nothing. It was the guilt I had to root out and reconcile.
For me, the root was how I was brought up. My father was big on productivity. It was out of control to the point he left books by the toilet. My brothers and I (as kids) had to read while doing no.2's!
I have no hard feelings about being brought up that way. Besides, it's good to be productive to a point. So, to deal with my guilt, I now do nothing after doing something.
P.S. I didn't vote in the poll because it doesn't matter when you send the emails, I'll read them whenever I have time, which varies from day to day (weekday or weekend).
I can so relate to this, it's like I always need to be busy and doing nothing is unacceptable. It's not easy working through those unhelpful thoughts!!
I love this! Totally can relate. I think the hardest advice I was given once was to try to sit and do nothing for 10 minutes every day. Not even looking at the phone. Very hard as well in productive driven societies where our attention is always solicitated. Great piece!
Thank you! It is indeed hard! Have you ever succeeded at sitting and doing nothing for 10 minutes?
Sometimes yes! It’s quite useful when I feel super burnt out but you have to let the thoughts roll I think which can be uncomfortable
Yes, it can be! I'm trying to lean into it more though. Thanks for sharing!
Oh number 6 for sure!! But in general when I struggle with "doing nothing" I try to remind myself that doing nothing is it's own form of productivity and nourishment! I can't just keep going going going, because then I'll burn out. So being able to relax is crucial to doing anything else, and what's more, to enjoy actually Living.
Great perspective, Niki. Thanks for sharing!
GRACIAS Y FELICES
FELICES Y GRACIAS
Funny--and yet, we can all relate!
I'm glad you found this piece relatable!
Hi Alexis...I think doing nothing is the source of most of the great advances in human history. Nothing is the space in which inspiration comes... a place just the other side of thinking :) I know walking is not nothing...but walking just for walking, just because I am walking is as close to nothing as I can find that is a kind of doing but qualifies in the nothing category. It is my way of doing nothing. 🙂
Hi Ian,
That’s a great point. Walking is a great way to feel like you’re still moving forward (or doing something) if it’s hard to sit still. I also enjoy walking and should probably do it more!
Love the saying 'time-rich' 😍 it's a-ma-zing to have this kind of richness
Yes indeed, Marie! Do you miss it now that you have the pups? 😹
I do 😂
It’s funny how we’ve made to believe subconsciously that doing nothing is us wasting time. That’s a different story for me as a mother. But even before motherhood I remember jotting to dos every hour of the day. And feeling bad if I missed something. The one good thing that motherhood made me do is to slow down and prioritize so that I enjoy those times in between when I can just sit and “do nothing” even if it’s for a few minutes.
I can't wait to get there! I mean to a place where I can enjoy the moments in between more. I want to, but I always feel like I need to fill those moments. It feels like, slowly, I'm getting better at it though. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh my gosh 100% I think we're all saying to reject the hustle culture but subconsciously we are still following it. When I think of life pre internet days it was a lot of doing nothing but it didn't feel like doing nothing because everyone around you was also doing nothing and it was fine. There was no anxiety of doing nothing.
Now we can see these extraordinary individuals (like Bill Gates or Beyonce) activities and we feel like we have to match it to be "successful". But is that the only definition of successful? And I don't think they can keep up with the pressure (I mean how many breakdowns have we seen?).
It's a tricky thought to wrestle. I struggle with it all the time! I do see the anti productive moment on Substack/social media but it's kinda counterproductive because we're trying to do nothing but we're still pressured to create content 😅 my brain hurts
I relate to everything you shared here, Ellina! I'm in the process of redefining what success means to me and I think it's helping (at atleast a bit!)... I recently enjoyed reading Emma Gannon's book The Success Myth. You might also like it!
ooo yeah she has a great Substack and I'm reading her Multi-Hyphen book now. The Success Myth is next. Hope you're able to define success for yourself! It's so valuable once you do. All the best!
Haha, I enjoyed your list. Its nice to be occupied but even better to do nothing at times.
100%! Your response leads me to believe that you've cracked the code on doing nothing. Please share how you got there! 😻
That's a good question, and I cracked it later in life. For the longest time, I'd feel guilty doing nothing. It was the guilt I had to root out and reconcile.
For me, the root was how I was brought up. My father was big on productivity. It was out of control to the point he left books by the toilet. My brothers and I (as kids) had to read while doing no.2's!
I have no hard feelings about being brought up that way. Besides, it's good to be productive to a point. So, to deal with my guilt, I now do nothing after doing something.
That something is rewarded with nothing.
#8 is blowing my mind and i'm pretty sure I'm stuck in a mental spiral now... 😶
(incredibly relatable list!)
I'm glad it's relatable! And I hope you broke the mental spiral. 🌀
haha love these thoughts, thanks for sharing.
P.S. I didn't vote in the poll because it doesn't matter when you send the emails, I'll read them whenever I have time, which varies from day to day (weekday or weekend).
You're welcome! And thanks for letting me know about the publishing schedule here in the comments. I'll keep that in mind.
I can't ever sit and just do nothing. But the best way for me to relax is reading with my dog sleeping on my lap!
I don't think it is physically possible to do nothing - because we can never stop thinking!
I can so relate to this, it's like I always need to be busy and doing nothing is unacceptable. It's not easy working through those unhelpful thoughts!!