Why it’s good to do nothing

When was the last time you did nothing?

I don’t mean ‘scrolled through Instagram’ or ‘binged Netflix’. I mean sat down, by yourself, with nothing except you and your thoughts for company.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll struggle to remember the last time this happened.

Most people spend all day on their phones. From the blurry-eyed email check, to the podcast-filled commute, to the pre-bed YouTube rabbit hole — everyone with a smartphone now has the capability to fill every single waking moment with some kind of content, and it feels good.

But here’s the thing: no one on their deathbed wishes they’d spent more time on TikTok.

Of course, phones are great when we use them to our advantage. Think: Google Maps; video calls; online banking.

But let’s be honest, it’s so easy to mindlessly reach for totally banal, mostly passive content (even as I write this I’m battling the urge to watch YouTube). It’s the stuff we really crave, and you don’t need me to tell you it isn’t healthy.

Just listen to the American Journal of Epidemiology, for example, who found that those who spend more time on social media are more likely to report a decline in not just mental and physical health, but also life satisfaction.

What if we flipped this on its head and every now and then switched off our phones to help us enjoy the things that really matter? Risk-taking, friendship-building, hugging a family member, and starting a romantic relationship all require being in the present moment. Even creativity can come from boredom and growth from failure — but only if we give ourselves space to think.

Whilst it can be tempting to grab a quick rush of endorphins by playing Candy Crush — or whatever the equivalent escape from life’s complexities is for you — it is essential for healthy living that we actually take to time to absorb what life throws at us.

Whether it is reflecting on the day at work, preparing for a meaningful conversation or simply allowing yourself to acknowledge sadness about a recent failure, we cannot live properly unless we remove distractions.

There are so many hints and tips out there to help you balance your relationship with technology, and these are great. But how about we start by just sitting down, taking a deep breath and doing… nothing.