Doing nothing is something worth doing — What does nothing mean to people?
Previously, I’ve written about seeking “Agency Over My Energy” and my attempt to shift gears. Placing my awareness on how I’m using my energy. Stopping, planning and allocating time & energy to goals; while also ensuring that time is taken doing nothing, refueling my soul. Nothing is not being completely sedentary. It takes the form of play, of being, living in a place of stillness if not only for a moment. Consciously aware of an absence of the intrinsic and intense drive to “do more.”
This is not a destination, but a practice. Hence the reason many of these nourishing activities are labelled practices.
After publishing the piece friends began sending me their suggestions at my request. What is it that people do when they are engaging in the self loving act of play or rest?
It’s been comforting to know I’m not alone in this. My intention is that you feel the same.
Pursuing this exercise, having discussions with friends and browsing articles by some of you has confirmed we’re in this together. Soon after publishing I found a a reflection by Ryan Holiday in this article on stillness, and his revelation in another discussion with his wife.
I’m beyond certain that I’m not the only one who battles a compulsive desire to do. So here is my attempt to provide you with the weaponry required to find stillness through doing nothing — because it’s something worth doing.
I’ve collated those answers below. Before that I’d like to outline my experience since “Chasing Agency Over My Energy” was published by The Innovation.
Since September 16th, I got some forced practice in this… let us call it an art! I’ve been on a bit of a roller coaster. Some inflammation in my pancreas led to an auto-immune response which almost pushed my body beyond what it could handle. My most visceral of near death experiences.
I’m writing about it at the moment. It was so intense and life defining, I’m taking my time — but let’s just say I got some practice doing nothing over those 12 days.
Outside of that forced period of sedentary, excruciating rest and introspection, I’ve been successfully curating my energy allocation. During that time, I had profound experiences. Deep reflections on my life and it wasn’t the busy times that came to me, it was those special moments of stillness.
It really is the simple things.
My wish is that you find some suggestions in there you’d never though of. I sure did — two people even mentioned they love to birdwatch. Fantastic!
Below are some personal highlights of low energy activities. I include the emotional and spiritual energies that we expend without physical movement. These few are so simple, yet the effect so noticeable. I want to include them separately explained:
- Sitting down to eat far from media devices. Focusing on the experience of eating.
- Using the washroom without a phone.
- Waking and sitting with green tea. Engaging all the senses.
- Sitting outside with nothing more than a book, or nothing at all.
- Shifting to a messaging platform that isn’t based on ads, and without the push to a social media platform. For me, that is Signal, but there are many others. There is a time and a place for social media, but notifications and deliberate attention grabbing tricks can steal us from our peace.
Minor, minor habits and yet the change has been drastic.
The List: Play or nothing at all.
Doing nothing, playing or other forms of “being” is a form of self love. I’ve separated the activities into the amount of equipment required. It is by no means exhaustive and I’d love to hear from you in the comments, or email if you found them valuable. I’d also love to be surprised by your own personal favourites! Included or not!
Take care of yourselves. Our society is geared toward over activity and the risk is we end up like hamsters on a wheel. Moving with so much velocity but not getting anywhere. Self love is one of the hardest, most important things to do.
No Extra Equipment:
- Do every day tasks with no media. Eating and drinking proved to be the most difficult to bring myself into the present
- Spend time in Nature (however that looks) — Thank you, Raquel
- Pace slowly and mindfully noticing the muscles engaged as you move forward
- Dance (A personal favourite)
- Cloud watching on the grass doing a body scan.
- Star gazing (It’s been so many years and I felt like a kid again)
- Singing (or Oum’ing) brings immediate calm as the vibrations move
- Yoga
- Walking barefoot (anywhere)
- Walking in the rain and focusing on the sensory experience
- Lose yourself in a hug
- Walk where you are alone and be naked and free — Thanks, Mike
- Act like a monkey with a friend. Let the energy go
- Questing self propelled along or in the water
- Gardening
- Eating the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor
- Meditation (Static or Active)
- Shake your body until you feel silly and laugh at it
- Sex
- Make someone else laugh and laugh with them
- Foraging — Thanks, Caitlin
- Building simple things out of what you find foraging
- Bird watching — Thanks, Becky and Laura
- Loving your pets, or other’s (with permission!)
Some Equipment:
- Listen to Music (Tune your choice to your mood)
- Writing notes to friends or loved ones.
- Gratitude journal
- Write to yourself. Be serious, goofy and remember it’s just for you
- Board games / card games
- Flying a kite (old favorite and so much fun!)
- Play an instrument purely for the fun
- Riding around aimlessly
- Sing LOUDLY alone because it feels good (combine with the above)
- Have a brief shower and feel into it
- Photography of your adventures (Phone or Camera)
Technical:
- Write code you like just for the fun of it — Thanks, Rob
- Surfing — Thank you, Adam
- Climbing a route you like because it feels good
- Configure your home network — Thanks, Hédonism for this one
Add your own in the comments or email me. I continue to say this but nothing really is something worth doing. I’d love to hear what this means to you.
With Love, Take Care of Each Other,
— Nullzero
