The Power of Doing Nothing

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“The man who sits idle by a river all day and considers it not a waste of time is wise.”  -Zen saying.

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From the time we wake until we drag ourselves back to bed at night we are constantly busy.  We are a productive culture and society is reinforcing the idea that we aren’t productive enough. 

We exhaust ourselves yet drink high caffeine content beverages.  Then when we are not in high gear we turn to the media.  Technology entertains our minds but invites them to turn off and tune out. 

Even out in public, we are constantly on cell phones in some kind of distracting (if not a more industrious) way.  We are never doing “nothing”, but there are some powerful benefits to the act of stillness of both mind and body.

Take an hour, or a day if possible, and don’t do a thing.   No working or cleaning, and no planning to do anything.  Let your mind wander.  Do not entertain yourself with the television or the radio, and do not play on your cell phone.  Let go of the need to be productive. 

Get out of the house if you need to and be somewhere you can just mellow.  The following list is by no means comprehensive, but just a few examples of how you can improve your life through non-activity. 

De-stress for better health

If you never slow down your body will eventually not be able to keep up.  You need adequate rest and that means more than a few hours of sleep at night.  Take time to rest and relax.  By doing nothing you allow your mind to unwind and de-stress and that puts your body at ease.   Stress can take a terrible toll on your immune system.  Giving your mind time to be at peace also saves you from colds and the flu not to mention other more serious diseases further down the road.

Glean perspective on life

You can’t see the forest for the trees.  And it’s hard to take perspective on life when you are driving through it like it’s the Indy 500.  Stop and consider where you are heading in life.  Is life progressing as you wished it would?  Are you happy?  What changes can you make to improve your status in life?  I once heard that a ship at sea is off course constantly and the captain must make adjustments in navigation the entire trip in order to arrive at the proper destination.  This too is how life is. 

Gain Gratitude

I can say with great confidence that if you stopped doing anything for a specified amount of time, the world would function without you.  Too many people have this thought that they are indispensable to their jobs or their families and that can put a lot of pressure (not to mention stress) on you.  You should be happy that when you stop doing as you would normally do, life will adapt and go on around you. 

The system works and you don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders.  View the complex system of this world by stepping back from it. Admire it at a distance and be grateful to be apart of it.  It’s a sophisticated universe we live in, and you are a sophisticated component of it.  Rejoice in that while remarking at its beauty.

Make yourself more productive

Call it “creative rejuvenation,” but to rest, letting the mind wander, is some of the best medicine I’ve ever given myself professionally.  My best ideas often come when I’m not sitting at the computer writing, but sitting on the beach with my feet in the sand.  It’s always happened this way. Why?  Probably because I’m at peace and my mind is off daydreaming. 

In order to get new ideas you have to do something different than you normally do.  Whether you’ve thinking professionally or personally, it’s all the same.  Take a small sabbatical and breathe new energy into your life.

The beneficial power of doing nothing can provide greater health, a better vision of your goals, and revive creative juices.  Try it.  It will be difficult at first as your habits have been to stay occupied, but surely you’ll master the art of non-action.