Tonight, I am sitting around and doing nothing. And honestly? It’s the best thing I can do for myself right now.
I have so many priorities and projects weighing on me—things that keep me up at night. The never-ending to-do lists, the responsibilities, the pressure to always be moving forward. But in this moment, I am not doing any of that. I’m just being, and it feels good.
No one really tells us how to sit with ourselves, how to check in, how to notice the small aches and pains that persist throughout the day. Like the subtle sting of a conversation that didn’t go well. The frustration of being late to a meeting. The nagging voice saying, I should probably post on social media. The worry that nobody cares about what I have to say. The guilt of not reaching out to a friend in too long.
It’s a constant mental chatter—a noise that builds up, filling every quiet moment. And the thing is, a lot of it isn’t even real. It’s just the mind reacting to stress, to the environment I’m in, to the collective anxiety that surrounds all of us. We live in a world that constantly demands our attention, and sometimes, the best response is to give it nowhere to go.
If you are carrying a lot right now, I want to encourage you: schedule time to do nothing. Block it off in your calendar. Make space for stillness, even if you’re at work, even if you’re being paid to sit there. Because no one can be 100% on all the time. Cancel meetings that aren’t useful. Skip the ones you’re not prepared for. Be willing to do less and, in doing so, create more value.
Why We Struggle to Do Nothing
We live in an era of constant stimulation. Notifications, emails, news updates, social media, and now AI-generated content flooding our screens at all hours. There is always something to look at, some new piece of information demanding our attention.
Doing nothing feels unnatural because we’ve been conditioned to believe that our worth is tied to our productivity. If we’re not actively working, networking, learning, or improving, then we must be wasting time, right?
Wrong.
Productivity without rest leads to burnout. Creativity without stillness leads to uninspired work. Connection without self-reflection leads to shallow relationships. The irony is that the more we resist stillness, the more we crave it.
Think about the last time you reached for your phone out of boredom. Maybe you scrolled mindlessly through social media, only to realize afterward that you didn’t actually enjoy any of it. Maybe you checked your email for the tenth time, knowing full well there was nothing urgent. These behaviors aren’t about entertainment or necessity—they’re about avoiding stillness.
We are terrified of sitting with ourselves because, in those moments, all the unprocessed emotions come up. The stress, the fears, the self-doubt. But avoiding them doesn’t make them go away. It just buries them deeper, only for them to resurface later—stronger and harder to ignore.
The Hidden Cost of Constant Stimulation
There is a reason why some of the most successful and creative people in the world prioritize stillness. Steve Jobs was known for his long walks. Warren Buffett spends much of his time reading and thinking. Bill Gates has his famous “Think Weeks,” where he isolates himself just to reflect.
Why? Because constant stimulation kills deep thought. It drowns out creativity. It prevents us from gaining true insight into our lives, our work, and our goals.
Our best ideas don’t come when we’re frantically responding to emails or attending back-to-back meetings. They come when we pause. When we allow ourselves space to breathe.
But in the modern world, stillness isn’t just rare—it’s actively discouraged.
• Work culture glorifies busyness. If you’re not overloaded, you must not be working hard enough.
• Social media rewards constant engagement. If you’re not posting, commenting, and staying relevant, you’ll be forgotten.
• AI and automation have made everything faster. The expectation is that we should be able to keep up, no matter the cost.
The result? A world where people are more overwhelmed, more anxious, and more exhausted than ever before.
How to Reclaim the Power of Doing Nothing
If you’re feeling burnt out, unfocused, or just off, the solution may not be to do more. It may be to do less. To make space for moments of nothingness.
Here’s how:
1. Schedule Time to Do Nothing
Treat stillness like an important meeting. Block it off in your calendar. It doesn’t have to be long—even 10 minutes of intentional nothingness can make a difference.
2. Resist the Urge to Fill Every Moment
Waiting in line? Sitting in a car? Instead of grabbing your phone, just be in the moment. Notice your surroundings. Pay attention to your thoughts.
3. Cancel Useless Meetings and Tasks
Not every meeting is necessary. Not every email needs an immediate response. Give yourself permission to eliminate what isn’t serving you.
4. Take a Break from Screens
Turn off your phone. Close your laptop. Step away from the endless stream of information. Your brain needs space to breathe.
5. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness isn’t just meditation—it’s the practice of being present. Whether it’s through deep breathing, journaling, or just sitting quietly, find a way to reconnect with yourself.
6. Be Okay with Being Bored
Boredom isn’t the enemy. It’s the birthplace of creativity. Let yourself experience it without immediately seeking distraction.
The Value of Doing Less
By making time for stillness, you’ll start to notice some unexpected benefits:
• More clarity. When you slow down, your thoughts become clearer. You start to see what actually matters.
• Better decision-making. Instead of reacting impulsively, you have the space to make intentional choices.
• Increased creativity. Your best ideas will come in moments of stillness, not in the chaos of constant busyness.
• Less stress. When you stop forcing yourself to be “on” all the time, your nervous system relaxes.
Doing nothing isn’t lazy—it’s essential. It allows us to recharge, to process, to create. In a world that glorifies constant motion, choosing stillness is an act of rebellion.
So tonight, I am sitting here, doing nothing. And I hope you find the space to do the same.