In an age where productivity is idolized and hustle culture dominates, the concept of doing nothing seems almost criminal... After graduating from my Masters, I had decided to take two months to bask in the joy of doing absolutely nothing. But there I was, writing this post proving to myself that words haven’t disappeared from my brain…. ironic, isn’t it? This paradox faced by many highlights a rather daunting reality: our inability to spend time with ourselves without having the weight of a thousand guilts.
My initial plan to revel in nothingness went to shambles when my compulsion to fill the void with productivity kicked in, and I won’t lie it kicked in pretty soon. Three days into my long-awaited freedom I found myself struggling with guilt, with anxiety…. How could I do NOTHING? What does it even mean to do nothing?? My anxiety became a testament to how deeply ingrained the need to stay busy has become, even when we consciously choose to step away from it. This pit dug itself even deeper when the guilt of not being able to do nothing came bashing in through the front door. Instead of finding peace, I grappled with an inner turmoil, feeling restless and unaccomplished. I really am good for nothing, am I? (Pun not intended)
There are just so many barriers- we are too afraid to know ourselves, too afraid face the judgments about doing nothing, too afraid of simply being. Our fear keeps us in constant motion, avoiding the silence that reveals uncomfortable truths. Eventually, motion becomes our addiction and society the dealer, waiting for us to slip and become its slaves, forgetting ourselves. Then eventually like any other addiction, the addiction of always doing more leaves no space for rest.
How can we then expect to not face withdrawal when our mind is so accustomed to constant stimulation? The anxiety, restlessness, frustration, sleeplessness, and irritability, the itch of doing just about anything but being free. This made me realise how problematic our perpetual state of activity is. I developed symptoms of restless legs syndrome for God sake- something I realised would drastically reduce on days I was incredibly busy.
But is it really our fault when the drug surrounds us in every nook and corner, testing our ability to make time for ourselves? I understand the need to be busy but when phrases like “an empty mind is the devil’s workshop” are used so loosely, they carry a profound impact on our psyche. We are taught to fear idleness. Whether in school, work, or daily life, the expectation to move from one activity to the next is relentless, even when we complete our assigned tasks, sitting idle is often met with disapproval. Even in simple conversations, responding with “nothing” to how we fill our time is just not acceptable.
Meditation is okay, hobbies? Fine. Social media? Yea, you’re catching up. Nothing? Not okay, never okay. Don’t get me wrong, we SHOULD do all of this too, but it is also okay to just sit with your thoughts, to enjoy a moment of stillness, and owe no explanation for it… not even to yourself.
Unlike me, however, I would suggest strongly to anyone trying this to start small. 10-15 minutes a day? Then more till you feel comfortable in your own company, till you are able to be with yourself without thinking a billion thoughts. By acknowledging the challenges and taking small steps towards embracing stillness, we can begin to break free from the addiction to busyness and rediscover the simple joy of just being.
An empty mind need not be a devil’s workshop of we reclaim the peace that comes with doing nothing.
