The joy of doing nothing
You might’ve noticed that I had a writing hiatus last week.
My previous post was about waiting for a Covid result. Yep, it was Covid, and it completely wiped me out. I had no choice but to lie the f*ck down and not move.
When the crippling, immovable headache subsided, I thought I was recovering. And then the brain fog, dizziness, and fatigue set in — it felt like a neverending hangover after a massive night out, only I hadn’t been drinking. The only thing that helped me feel any better was a nap. And boy, did I nap.
When I regained enough energy to hold a conversation, I called a good friend. We laughed (Geez, that felt good) at how Covid-crazy the world still is and how the only thing that can get us to be still, I mean really still, is a ravaging virus.
My friend mentioned how much she’d love to stop being so busy and be still for a week.
It made me think.
If you’re taking the time to read this, I bet you can relate to that feeling. The one where you move from one activity or task to the next — the subconscious drive to be busy to avoid the guilt that sets in if you sit down without a huge to-do list to go through. Right?
Wearing busy as a badge of honour is not a new concept. People much more intelligent than I have been writing about society’s need for ‘busy badges’ for years — but Covid has forced us to rethink.
I’ve been asking myself, when did I start using busy as a cloak to hide behind?
Let me back up a bit here. I like being busy. But why?
I realise it’s easy for me to be busy because I’ve always linked my identity and value as a human with how productive/successful/praised I am.
This year is about changing that. I can still be me without always having something to do. I can still feel good about myself without being praised for being (perceived as) productive. Can’t I?
The joy of doing nothing.
Rachel Jonat really nailed it. The joy of doing nothing. There are simple things we can all do to stop us from overscheduling our life, find time for ourselves, and create moments of calm (joy!) every day.
Being wiped with Covid meant I had no choice but to slow down. And I did that without the feelings of shame and ‘you’re lazy’ I get when I do nothing. Being sick meant I also had time to stare at the wall and think.
Guess what I found out?
You’re not lazy for having a rest! Rest is not just good — it’s essential. And, it’s ok just to sit (ok, lie down) guilt-free and do nothing. It’s empowering.
Sure, it took me to get sick to figure it out, but it sparked a crucial thought — there is joy in doing nothing, and I’m gonna do more of it.
Where is your joy of doing nothing?
