The Accidental Joy of Doing Nothing

Last Saturday, I stared at my ceiling for three hours. No, I wasn’t practicing some avant-garde meditation or attempting to hypnotize myself. I was… doing nothing. And it felt surprisingly rebellious.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a zen master/Buddhist monk once said, “Don’t just do something, stand there.” Easy to say, hard to do, especially when Western culture treats stillness like COVID in 2020. In our society, if you’re not juggling three jobs, responding to emails at midnight, and posting motivational quotes while making your own kombucha, people start to whisper to themselves, “Are they… okay?”

Yet here’s the thing: doing nothing is underrated. Really. It’s where creativity sneaks in, your sanity gets a little reset, and the brain finally files all those tabs you’ve been ignoring (I know some of you get me). Some of my best ideas—song lyrics, blog lines, even grocery lists—come from these gloriously lazy moments. And yes, I may or may not have invented a new dance move and TikTok craze while attempting to reach the remote without standing up

So next time you feel guilty for binge-watching a show, lying in a hammock, or staring at a ceiling fan like it is talking to you, embrace it. Revel in the rebellious joy of nothingness. Let your mind wander, your shoulders relax, and your dog judge you silently in peace. Because sometimes, the most productive thing you can do… is nothing at all.

And if anyone questions it? Just tell them you’re on a highly advanced, spiritually enlightened “doing nothing” program. Bonus points if you wear a robe and sip tea like a wise sage.

Best wishes and regards,

-Paul