I believe it might be impossible for me to do nothing.
And by nothing, I mean nothing. I don’t mean meditating, or sleeping, or ‘resting’… I mean being fully awake, yet still.
Even when I’m relaxing, I still have to be doing something. Usually that something is devouring another urban fantasy/paranormal romance on my kindle (my favourite type of brain candy). You see, if I even attempt to just relax and do nothing, I feel guilty.
Terribly, horribly, guilty.
My brain will go around in circles, considering the numerous and never-ending things I could, and therefore should be working on.
The orders I could be filling, blog posts I could be writing, e-mails that need answering… and the list goes on. I think this particular malady is especially prevalent in those who work for ourselves. From home.
We never “leave work”. It’s always there, in the other room, just ready and waiting. Lurking.
Reading is the only way I’ve found to completely distract my brain from these thoughts. It’s my secret sanctuary from everything – it always has been.
Recently, though, I stumbled on something that makes me realise I’m not alone in this inability to do nothing. I have a suspicion that it’s something almost all of us suffer from these days. Do you?
Here’s a little test for you. Go on, I double-dare you!
Visit this site, and do what it says… that is, Nothing. Then, come back here. Go on, I’ll wait.
Why, hello again! So – could you do it?
How did you feel?
Anxious?
Fidgety?
Bored?
Did you reach a place of relaxation? I have to admit – the first time I tried this, I was completely frazzled for the first minute, but I forced myself to stick with it. To take a few deep breaths, and just stop.
And oh my gosh… that felt good. Really good.
In this world of smart-phones, iPads, kindles… we no longer have space to just stop. To be bored for a moment. To switch off.
We’ve lost the gaps between activities. Those moments where we just *had* to do nothing, because we didn’t have a choice.
Maybe it’s something we should cultivate, so we don’t lose the ability forever.
What do you think?
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Image by Aya Brackett, found via Pinterest.
I know.. it’s almost ridiculous how doing ‘nothing’ can actually cause guilt but make you feel so good!Â
One of the first times after a long long while I did ‘nothing’ was when I went to visit my mother-in-law and had a lazy afternoon in the garden and taking a walk and I felt so refreshed.Â
Doing something all the time is somewhat due to work and social life being accessible online at your fingertips 24/7… hehe
Oh, walks are a lovely thing… though I often find my brain jumping all over and coming up with new ideas when I go walking! Much the same in the shower… 😉
I’m afraid I have the opposite problem, I’m a total pro at doing nothing. Which I used to think was awful, but I will now think of as a blessing! I just sat for 10 minutes listening to the waves, and I’d do it again! (But maybe that’s why I’ll probably never run a crafty empire like yours…)
I really miss living near the beach. Sitting there watching the waves is definitely high up on the list of ways to actually relax 🙂
That was surprisingly difficult. I got sort of hung up on the fact that the horizon line is crooked though, it really started to bother me. 😉
Haha, oh no, good thing I didn’t notice that, it would have bugged me, too!
Oh, I wanted to relax *so badly*, but my little one was at my elbow the entire time, while my partner was talking to me, apparently oblivious to the massive headphones on my head.
I don’t remember the last time I actually felt relaxed or did nothing – even before my daughter was born, I was constantly doing *something*, be it work or reading or some kind of craft. But I’m not complaining – I thoroughly enjoy doing things, keeping my hands and mind busy, helps me feel like I’m accomplishing something with my time.
I agree Stacey – I love being busy! I’m often a nightmare when forced into a situation where I have nothing to do 😉
i find that the only time i get to do nothing is when I read… but even that is doing something. My mind is constantly jumping at me – that comes from mother of 3, part time single mum, crafter….
Although I often do nothing, it is not ‘nothing’ nothing, there is always something. My relaxation, which I find different to nothing, is reading.
Another reader! 🙂 It is the best relaxation for me, always.
Thanks Jess. I had seen you tweet about that site before. But had I tried it? Nerp. So having you *force* me to do nothing right then was really good!Â
I get irritated by meditation. (There, I’ve said it.) I’d much rather sit and ‘do nothing’. And it’s nice to have something to look at. I think next time I’ll go outside and do it. As long as I keep my eyes on the horizon and watch the river, I won’t notice the weeds that need pulling out of my garden… 🙂
Exactly! I think that’s why this works. It gives you something to listen to and look at (which is actually a technique employed in many traditional meditative practices – they know our minds need something to focus on).Â
I think the pervasive idea that meditation means just trying to sit still and not think is a problem – the eastern religions have so many different ways to meditate – which is really just a way to pull your attention from the everyday ‘monkey chatter’ of your thoughts to a place where your consciousness is separate from those thoughts.
Can you tell I studied this stuff at uni? I’ll stop blathering now ;D
So true, so true Jess.Â
I’m guilty of not being able to sit still and switch off as well. If I force myself to stop for a bit (usually to stretch my back because I’ve been at my computer too long) I’ll be making a mental list of all the things I need to do / finish when I get up.
We really do need to remember how to entertain ourselves; how to just sit and do ‘nothing’. Â Like we did when we were kids – existing in the fantasy worlds inside our heads, without the need for outside stimulation. Â I know it’s something that I’m teaching the kids… “Time to unplug kids, and get outside to play” (but that’s a whole other conversation, I think). Â
Cheers,
Tasha
Yeah, although I was a bookworm as a kid, I also have many fond memories of being outside and just *existing*… it’s something we seem to lose track of as adults, sadly.
I’m right there with you. I think I’ll bookmark that page and do it 3 times daily or something, just to keep some zen in my life.
I thought about doing that, too!!
I’m right there with you. I think I’ll bookmark that page and do it 3 times daily or something, just to keep some zen in my life.
What a wonderful idea! I’ve now added it to my Day Zero Project List: Do a bit of nothing everyday.
Peace out.
I’d love to post a comment but would like to be too busy doing nothing or workign at doing nothing – such a challenge