Social pressure keeps so many of us busy, but now it’s more important than ever to take time to do NOTHING. Whether you’re quarantined alone or with others, carving out time to do nothing will make you more healthy, connected, creative and well-rested. In this episode, you will discover why being idle is so important, how to intentionally do nothing, and fun, unapologetically idle activities.

In a world filled with major stressors like COVID-19, doing nothing might seem counter-intuitive. But despite what our productivity-obsessed culture tells us, idle time makes you more healthy, connected, creative and well-rested. In this episode, Stacey and Lisa share how you can give yourself the gift of doing nothing, to buoy you through pandemic and the rest of your life.

Why be idle now?

Intentional idleness boosts your creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills — yes, really. Making time to do nothing also leads to better relationships with yourself and others (always important, but especially when sheltering-in-place). 

But let’s be honest, there is some privilege around who gets to be idle. It’s easier to find time to relax and do nothing when you’re not worried about money or on the front lines of this pandemic. Yet whether you’re working from home and have 30 minutes, or you’re on rotation at the hospital and just have 5 minutes, making idle time a priority will serve you for the rest of your life.

The first step to doing nothing

We live in a culture of busy-ness that has carried into our homes. While everyone has responsibilities, being constantly busy is a choice. We must take moments to ourselves that don’t involve working and completing tasks on our endless to-do lists. Stacey and Lisa share exactly how to carve out idle time for yourself with this simple trick: “idle time cheat codes.” 

Intentionally being idle

The great thing about being idle is that there’s no wrong or right way to do it — you can’t mess it up! Once you’ve accepted that idleness as an important part of your routine, you’ll quickly see how being unproductive enhances your quality of life. Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, now is a great opportunity to intentionally step away from our culture of busy-ness. Listen to the episode now for fun and simple ways to give yourself the gift of doing nothing.

Click “Play” above to listen now. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What are you ‘doing’ (pun intended) during your idle time? We would love to hear your stories. Leave us a comment below, or reach out to us on social media. 

Show Notes:

• Discover ‘Niksen’, a Dutch lifestyle concept of doing nothing
• Matthew Dick’s book Storyworthy includes a fun daily writing activity to uncover the important moments in your day and document your experience through COVID-19
• Listen to The Moth Podcast to hear people who are brave enough to tell a personal story in a room full of strangers!
• To learn more about Stacey, visit ReworkWork. Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn and Twitter
• To learn more about Lisa, visit Story Happens Here. Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn and Twitter