The Art of Doing Nothing: Why We’re All Terrible At It

Look, I Get It

We’re all busy. Like, really busy. I’m sitting here in my home office in Portland, Oregon, and I’ve got about 214 tabs open in my browser. Emails to answer, articles to edit, meetings to schedule. It’s 11:30pm, and I’m still at it. But here’s the thing: I’m not actually getting anything done. Not really.

You know what I mean? We fill our days with stuff—busywork, mostly—but how much of it actually matters? I asked my friend Marcus about this last Tuesday over coffee at the place on 5th. He said, “Mike, you’re always doing, but when was the last time you just… didn’t?” Which… yeah. Fair enough.

My Commitment to Doing Nothing

About three months ago, I decided to try something radical. I committed to doing nothing for an entire day. No work, no chores, no errands. Just… nothing. I told my colleague named Dave about it, and he laughed. “You? Do nothing? Good luck with that.” Thanks, Dave. Really helpful.

So, I set aside last Saturday as my “nothing” day. I woke up, made myself some coffee, and sat on my couch. And then I panicked. What do I do now? I reached for my phone out of habit, then stopped myself. Nope. Not today. I tried reading a book, but my mind kept wandering back to my to-do list. I tried meditating, but all I could think about was the aquisition report due on Monday. It was completley unsuccesful.

By 3pm, I was climbing the walls. I ended up watching TV for six hours straight. And you know what? It was amazing. I didn’t feel guilty, I didn’t feel productive, I just… was. It was weirdly liberating.

Why Are We So Bad At This?

We’ve been conditioned to think that doing nothing is lazy. That if we’re not being productive, we’re failing. But that’s bullshit. Our brains need downtime to process, to recharge, to just be. But we’re so used to filling every waking moment with something that we’ve forgotten how to do nothing.

I read this study once—okay, fine, I skimmed it—about how our brains need time to consolidate memories and process information. It’s like when you’re trying to solve a tough problem, and you step away for a bit, and then suddenly the answer hits you. That’s your brain doing its thing in the background. But we don’t give it enough time to do that anymore.

And look, I get it. Society rewards productivity. But at what cost? We’re all running ourselves ragged, and for what? To check off a few more boxes on our to-do lists? To keep up with the Joneses? It’s exhausting.

A Tangent: Summer Fashion Trends Essentials

Speaking of doing nothing, have you ever noticed how people dress in the summer? It’s like everyone suddenly becomes a fashion blogger. I was talking to my sister about this the other day, and she told me about these summer fashion trends essentials she found online. I mean, who has the time to think about fashion when you’re trying to figure out how to fit in a nap? But hey, maybe that’s the point. Maybe doing nothing involves looking good while you’re at it.

Anyway, back to the point. Or not. I’m not sure I have one anymore.

The Physicaly Impossible Task

So, how do we get better at doing nothing? It’s harder than it sounds. Our brains are wired to seek out patterns, to solve problems, to keep moving. But we can train ourselves to slow down. To sit with our thoughts, to embrace the boredom, to just… be.

I’m not saying you should spend every day vegging out in front of the TV. But maybe try setting aside an hour or two a week to do nothing. No phone, no TV, no distractions. Just you and your thoughts. It’s gonna feel weird at first, but give it a chance. You might be surprised at how refreshing it is.

And if all else fails, just remember what Marcus told me: “Mike, you’re always doing, but when was the last time you just… didn’t?” Maybe it’s time to find out.

About the Author
Mike Thompson is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience. He’s written for major publications, edited countless articles, and has a love-hate relationship with his to-do list. When he’s not working, he’s probably trying (and failing) to do nothing. You can find him in Portland, Oregon, probably with 214 tabs open in his browser.