The Quiet Power of Doing Nothing

In a world that never ceases to want us to be doing something, doing nothing is seen in a negative light. We pride ourselves on working, doing side hustles, and scrolling endlessly on screens in every moment of free time. Others compliment us with accomplishment and "being busy." But what if this is all wrong?

What if living more is not about doing more, but allowing ourselves to do less?

Not doing anything is not wasting time.

Let’s define "doing nothing." It is not staring at a wall all eight hours or neglecting your responsibilities. It is taking time to yourself. Time to think. Time to unwind. Time to let your head rest and not overload your brain with information or activities to get done today.

It is quiet with your morning coffee and not staring at your email. It is taking a walk and not tuning in to a podcast. It is letting yourself just be, and not seeking to get anything done.

Philosophers and thinkers have spoken at length over the centuries of the merits of doing nothing. The ancient Greeks held that leisure time, or non-work time, was the key to a happy and fulfilling life. Even contemporary psychology confirms this. Recent research indicates that when you are not concentrating on a particular task, your brain goes into a mode known as the default mode network. This mode is associated with creativity, memory, and profound thinking. Some of your finest brain work occurs here—daydreaming, sleeping, or simply relaxing.

The old dilemma of remaining still.

It feels odd today to be quiet. We are accustomed to doing something and finding something to listen to or do to avoid the silence. If there is silence, we reach for a phone. In line? Check your phone. On a bus or a train? Watch an online video. At a red light? Check your phone.

We view boredom as a problem to be remedied immediately.

But what if boredom isn’t a problem? What if it’s a doorway?

Experiments reveal that boredom makes us more creative. When we spend less time with our devices, we start becoming more creative. Our brain joins together different thoughts and brings missing pieces together. Solutions to issues that puzzled us become self-evident. Ideas come more easily to us than when we are busy with life. The Power of Stepping Back

Taking little breaks in your day can really make a difference in the way that you feel. Your breaks don’t have to be huge. You don’t have to travel to Bali or meditate for an hour.

Try this: sit down somewhere quiet. Put your phone away. Don’t plan. Don’t scroll. Just sit. Notice your surroundings. Listen to the sounds around you. Breathe.

It will be strange initially. It will even be uncomfortable. It's alright. That means that you are releasing the notion that your worth is based upon what you do. You are giving yourself permission to just be without the burden.

The more time that passes, the more this becomes a habit. You will be more relaxed, more focused, and more in the here and now. You will come to understand that resting is not a counteraction to accomplishment — it is what makes you accomplish.

More Isn’t Always Better

Today, we are a culture that thinks more is better - more work time, more part-time work, more Facebook updates. But more isn't necessarily better. More tends to promote tiredness and stress and loneliness.

Slowing down isn’t quitting. It’s not doing more, but better. It’s understanding your energy is a limited resource and using it judiciously.

When you actually stop, not merely pause but take a true break, you begin to do things by design rather than react. Life is no longer a race, but rather something that you are really living.

Last thoughts

Doing nothing is not lazy. It is not procrastination. It is an active resistance to a culture that worships busy. It is a commitment to living in the here and now rather than stressing. It is taking time to think, be creative, and rest. The next time you catch yourself feeling guilty over not having done anything, ask yourself: What am I really trying to do? And what will I see if I simply take a break — even a small one? You will be surprised at what arises when there is silence.