My list of Things to Do far exceeded my ability to do much of anything. And so I stared out a window with a large pine tree. It seemed there were birds fluttering about in shadows behind a gauze half curtain. Carefully, I moved to the window, pushed aside the white filmy shield, and then returned to the couch. Within minutes the tree came alive with chickadees fluttering between the long needles and pine cones. And so I simply watched and enjoyed the moments.
In April of 2019, the Dutch word meaning “doing nothing” — made the news. As such, people seemed to be embracing the concept of doing nothing.
Then along came the pandemic which forced many of us to change our ways of thinking and doing. We were often in forced isolation, unlike first responders and medical professionals, who were barely given time to sleep.
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 put oneself in a “nothing” frame of mind, these three actions might be helpful:
1. 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.
2. Schedule a “do-nothing” time by making it a part of your “To-Do” list.
3. Take mini-vacations within your day.
I once traveled to Portofino 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,
“CAUTION: No Trespassing. HONEYBEES. Please Do Not Disturb the Honeybees. They are hard at work and don’t need to be disturbed. Our farms, food and flowers depend on them.”
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.
Even in the medical profession, there seems to be a do something need.
In a Viewpoint 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)
Perhaps this new year, might be the right time to consider the value of downtime — to restore one’s spirit, to nourish the soul.
Copyright 2022 Rita Watson