The Art of Doing Nothing

Try It!

I’m never happier than when I’m doing nothing at all.

So, today, I chose to do nothing. No plans. No deadlines. No commitments. No peopling. No driving. No going to stores. I didn’t even get dressed. Instead, I wore my jammies all day. I fell asleep doing nothing and woke refreshed.

I live in a suburban neighborhood.

It is a gorgeous, early fall day. Dry air, blue skies, butterflies dancing in my mature garden, children at school, parents at work. I counted hummingbirds until I nodded off. Then, I fixed a second cup of coffee and did it all over again.

Just sitting in my tiny backyard doing nothing.

Modern life was supposed to give us more freedom, but as near as I can tell everyone is exhausted, overcommitted, even pressured to get up and get out there. They’ve forgotten how to do nothing. In fact, our culture makes people feel guilty if they do nothing.

You’re supposed to schedule fun times during your down times. You must have a long list of to-dos.

I keep reading that a huge percentage of Americans are on medication to help them cope with anxiety or depression. In fact, we are the most medicated society in the world. I can see why.

That’s to be expected when you’re driven to do everything.

Today, Im doing nothing

— nada, zilch, zero —

I feel no shame

or pressure to enter the game

No matter what they say,

I ain’t gonna play

I’ll sit right here

and watch

everybody else

doing something

while I do nothing at all.

Yeah, I did write a poem today, but that was a moment of inspiration which is very different than obligation. I highly recommend doing nothing.

You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel afterwards.

Teresa is retired educator, author, world traveler, and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.