WHEN was the last time you sat back and did nothing? A little mindless indulgence, a daydream or two can help make you a little bit happier.
Block out your morning schedule. Sit on your couch. Put your feet up. Gaze into the ceiling and let your mind wander. Do nothing.
When on vacation, resist the urge to pack your days with wall-to-wall itineraries. Checking those must-see sites is indeed an experience, but so will hanging out idly by the beach, watching the waves.
Go to a café, order your favorite drink. Resist the urge to hook up to wi-fi. Take in the scenery, people-watch. Enjoy the sensuality of doing nothing.
“What a waste of time!,” one may think. I think otherwise. After all, you’re spending time with yourself, aren’t you? Making time for yourself is hardly wasted time. By doing nothing, you connect with yourself quietly, meaningfully.
Do you find it hard to do nothing? Perhaps you are feeling too restless? Take baby steps. Here are some doing-nothing ideas. If you have:
1 minute: Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Focus on your breathing and let your stress melt away with each exhale.
10 minutes: Take a slow-motion bath. Rushing off to work allows us no time for smooth carefree movements in the shower or tub, so use these 10 minutes for some slow-motion shampooing and body pampering.
30 minutes: Go for a coffee break. Sip your drink and enjoy its sweetness, its bitterness. Gaze absent-mindedly into your cup or at the scenery. If you have a garden at home, take a chair and sit back with a glass of lemonade. Take in the fresh air and good sun, just be quiet.
1 hour: Take a walk. Walk aimlessly. See where your feet take you. If you’d rather not walk, grab a light comedy film and pop it in your DVD. Throw in some popcorn for some absent-minded but enjoyable chewing.
1 day: Do not plan anything. See where your day takes you. If you find yourself staying home painting your nails or listening to music all day, well and good.
During any of these moments, do not think of anything else! Indulge in the nothing-ness of the moment. You’ll feel lighter, calmer, more connected with yourself. And doesn’t that make you happier? There IS happiness in doing nothing at all.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
luckily, i do these things a lot of times after office since i am single and most of the time alone in my room.. it sounds weird, but nothing-ness makes me calm. it also helps if u turnoff your mobile esp while u r sleeping or during non-offce hours..
February 20th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
hahaha! know what, toni? i’ve learned to love this - doing nothing! it’s very therapeutic just sitting on the couch and listening to the sounds around me. i did this for an overnight trip in 2006. i was alone and i was just on the beach watching the waves and the people passing me by. it was so relaxing.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:31 am
when i took my ielts speaking exam, the examiner asked me the kind of relaxation activities i engage myself in. i blurted out reading, travel and spa. and then she said, “what about doing nothing?”. she has a point. doing nothing and thinking about nothing is such a decluttering mind activity. you feel good after.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:17 am
used to work in advertising…. got a chance to get out of it and joined a B2B company… and actually get lots of “happiness from doing nothing” moments…. ang saya…. sobrang saya…. aside from “sopping and smelling the flowers”, i’ve actually had a chance to “talk” with a monkey… trip, sobrang trip….
February 19th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
this is so awakening, i was teary-eyed having realized after reading your article the importance of connecting with oneself which i never had for quite a time. Bunch of thanks!