Making the Time to Do Nothing

When we stop to admire a flower, are we doing nothing? Does doing nothing really mean doing nothing?  More than just a frame of mind, it is also a decision. Ironically, there are many ways to do nothing.

However, in most instances, to really put oneself in a “nothing” frame of mind, these three actions might be helpful:

• Tidy up because it’s important to be free of distractions when making the time to do nothing. Find a de-cluttering method that works for you.
• Schedule a do nothing time. Just write it onto your “To-Do” list.
• Take mini-vacations within your day.  I once traveled to Portofino once while listing to Andrea Bocelli at a hair salon — no magazine, no book, no iPad, just listening. Although some might posit that listening is doing something.   For me it was a relaxing experience.

I had one of my best nothing moments on the day that Trump announced he was doing away with protections for the bald eagle. I was so distracted with the news that in walking home from an appointment, I meandered down a wrong street. As I admired the architecture and window boxes of homes that I had not seen before, I resisted the temptation to do something; that is, quickly find my way home using Google maps.  Taking one wrong turn after another,  serendipity walked me to a street with a very large fenced-in garden filled with sunflowers. A black and yellow sign read,

Instead of trying to figure out the location, I just stood there admiring flowers, butterflies, and an occasional bee. Eventually, I found my way home feeling nourished by the experience. Nonetheless, we often have a need to do something.

In a Viewoint piece for the British Journal of General Practice, Jessica Watson asked, “Do we sometimes use tests and investigations to help us deal with this sense of helplessness, in order to feel that we are ‘doing something’? (2017)

Here are some thoughts on what to do with doing nothing time.

1. Watch the clouds go by.

2. Find their shapes and tell their story.

3. Listen to your body, your breathing.

4. Empty your mind to quiet the noise inside your head.

5. Relive happy moments.

6. Express gratitude and start with being grateful to yourself.

7. Ponder a favorite saying — Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden.

8. Listen to the wind or the rain or the stillness of a moving flower.

9. Look around to see the birds or butterflies.

10. Think of someone who needs a blessing and silently wish them well.

11. Focus on the positive and keep anger at bay.

12. Create a positive illusion about someone you love. Marcel Zentner, PhD, of the University of Geneva, says this is a way to encourage life-long love (Zenter, 2005).

13. Practice mindfulness. Focus on what you are doing, what you are saying.

14. Ponder the words of Carl Jung: “Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes.”

And for those of you who must do something, consider creating a serenity space within your home.  A little corner that you can label your “Nothing to Do” Spot. You might just find that you are inclined to simply turn the moments into a time of gratitude.

Copyright 2019 Rita Watson (adapted from an earlier piece in PsychologyToday.com)