The Art of Doing Nothing: Unlocking the Power of Idleness
In an era where busyness is often touted as a virtue, embracing idleness can be a liberating experience. When life gets in the way and plans are cancelled, it's easy to panic and feel like we're losing control. But what if we told you that doing nothing can actually be beneficial?
A recent experiment took me from tidying up my houseplants to giving them a spa day, complete with a mini-makeover of dead leaves and a healthy dose of water. As I sat among the newly revived greenery, feeling smug but content, I realized that idleness had a profound impact on my mood. It was like I'd finally found a sense of nesting, where I could relax and recharge.
Research suggests that people often underestimate the benefits of inactivity. In fact, studies have shown that people would rather endure an electric shock than sit alone with their thoughts for just six to 15 minutes. So why do we tend to avoid idleness? It's not because we don't want to, but because our culture tells us that there's always something more productive we can be doing.
Gabrielle Treanor, author of The 1% Wellness Experiment, notes that social media is constantly bombarding us with ideas for new things to do. We're inspired by ways to decorate our homes, explore new places, and try new activities. It's easy to feel like life offers endless possibilities, and we try to cram everything into our days.
However, this mentality can lead to guilt and a sense of moral superiority when it comes to being busy. Treanor explains that the phrase "the devil will find work for idle hands" has become a mantra for many of us. We're trying to live up to expectations as parents, partners, colleagues, or friends, leaving little room for downtime.
But what if we flipped this script? What if embracing idleness wasn't seen as lazy, but rather as a form of self-care? Sandi Mann, a psychologist at the University of Lancashire and author of The Science of Boredom, suggests that boredom can actually be beneficial. When our brains are bored, they start to wander, making us more creative.
Mann recommends scheduling activities that allow us to be productively unproductive – think aimless walks or simply staring up at clouds. She warns against confusing mindless pursuits with mindful ones, like watching TV or scrolling online, which can stifle creativity.
Karoline Schubert's research on corporate idleness reveals that even in the workplace, downtime can have negative effects. Idle time can lead to boredom, fatigue, and decreased performance. However, by making the most of these stretches of doing nothing – whether it's helping colleagues or learning a new language – we can turn them into opportunities.
So how can you start embracing idleness? Treanor suggests starting small, like going for a walk without headphones or playing games that encourage noticing new things. For the truly brave, trying to sit and do nothing for just two minutes can be a liberating experience.
Ultimately, the art of doing nothing is about acknowledging that sometimes, we need to slow down. By embracing idleness, we can unlock its benefits – from relaxation to creativity – and find a sense of inner peace in an increasingly fast-paced world.
In an era where busyness is often touted as a virtue, embracing idleness can be a liberating experience. When life gets in the way and plans are cancelled, it's easy to panic and feel like we're losing control. But what if we told you that doing nothing can actually be beneficial?
A recent experiment took me from tidying up my houseplants to giving them a spa day, complete with a mini-makeover of dead leaves and a healthy dose of water. As I sat among the newly revived greenery, feeling smug but content, I realized that idleness had a profound impact on my mood. It was like I'd finally found a sense of nesting, where I could relax and recharge.
Research suggests that people often underestimate the benefits of inactivity. In fact, studies have shown that people would rather endure an electric shock than sit alone with their thoughts for just six to 15 minutes. So why do we tend to avoid idleness? It's not because we don't want to, but because our culture tells us that there's always something more productive we can be doing.
Gabrielle Treanor, author of The 1% Wellness Experiment, notes that social media is constantly bombarding us with ideas for new things to do. We're inspired by ways to decorate our homes, explore new places, and try new activities. It's easy to feel like life offers endless possibilities, and we try to cram everything into our days.
However, this mentality can lead to guilt and a sense of moral superiority when it comes to being busy. Treanor explains that the phrase "the devil will find work for idle hands" has become a mantra for many of us. We're trying to live up to expectations as parents, partners, colleagues, or friends, leaving little room for downtime.
But what if we flipped this script? What if embracing idleness wasn't seen as lazy, but rather as a form of self-care? Sandi Mann, a psychologist at the University of Lancashire and author of The Science of Boredom, suggests that boredom can actually be beneficial. When our brains are bored, they start to wander, making us more creative.
Mann recommends scheduling activities that allow us to be productively unproductive – think aimless walks or simply staring up at clouds. She warns against confusing mindless pursuits with mindful ones, like watching TV or scrolling online, which can stifle creativity.
Karoline Schubert's research on corporate idleness reveals that even in the workplace, downtime can have negative effects. Idle time can lead to boredom, fatigue, and decreased performance. However, by making the most of these stretches of doing nothing – whether it's helping colleagues or learning a new language – we can turn them into opportunities.
So how can you start embracing idleness? Treanor suggests starting small, like going for a walk without headphones or playing games that encourage noticing new things. For the truly brave, trying to sit and do nothing for just two minutes can be a liberating experience.
Ultimately, the art of doing nothing is about acknowledging that sometimes, we need to slow down. By embracing idleness, we can unlock its benefits – from relaxation to creativity – and find a sense of inner peace in an increasingly fast-paced world.
, but this whole "embracing idleness" thing feels like it's just another fad to me... Like, when did we start valuing doing nothing as some sort of superpower? I get what the researchers are saying about boredom being beneficial and all that, but can't we just find a happy medium between productivity and chill time? 
I mean, I love a good chill sesh as much as the next person, but when it starts to feel like an obligation or something, that's when I'm out. 
It's all a bit much for my skeptical brain... 
, like who needs to sit around doing nothing when you could be out there crushing it on the internet or creating something new? all this talk about "finding yourself" through idleness just sounds like a fancy way of saying "I'm too lazy to actually do anything". and don't even get me started on how ridiculous it is that people are paying money for spa days for their plants 
, prioritize the things that matter, not your ferns
honestly speaking, i think people overestimate the productivity they can get done in a day... like, what's the point of cramming everything into your schedule when you're just gonna end up stressed out? idleness might not be lazy, but it's about listening to that inner voice and taking care of yourself. if social media is always bombarding us with new ideas, maybe we should take a step back and let our minds wander sometimes 
trying to fill our days with "to-do lists" and stuff. Newsflash: sometimes just doing nothing can be the best thing you do all day! 
I mean, have you ever sat in a park on a hot summer day without any plans and just watched the world go by? Mind. Blown. 
, watch some vids or take a nap 
. research shows its actually pretty good for ur mood & creativity 
, so who cares if u're "wasting" time? 
.
Sitting around doing absolutely nothing sounds like the ultimate self-care #selflove. I mean, who needs productivity when you can just chill? 
. And Karoline Schubert's findings on corporate idleness are super interesting - I never thought about how downtime at work could have negative effects 