The Art of Doing Nothing

365 Writing Prompt

erika sauter
Jul 10, 2017 · 2 min read
Retrieved from Wallpaper Safari

I find this to be an intriguing and challenging subject. When referred to as doing nothing there are too many possible options.

Is in not being productive? Or, is it taking a lazy day? Or, is it sitting in complete oblivion and zoning out or starring into the vast empty space of invisible oxygen floating about the house? Or, is it lounging in a recliner while a photographer captures every blink and every breath? It’s not a clear question making it a challenge to provide a clear option.

My husband refers to accomplishing tasks as getting check marks. He’s a check mark addict. Before we were married and in the serious “spending the night together phase,” he would wake me at 6:00 AM on Saturday mornings to get check marks.

“I’m not as motivated as you,” I’d say. “Don’t ever wake me at 6:00 AM on a Saturday again,” I’d say. “The good lord intended for us to sleep late on Saturday or he wouldn’t have scheduled church so damn early on Sunday,” I’d say. Does that qualify as the art of doing nothing?

What about blowing off responsibilities? Taking care of the kids? No, I don’t feel like it today. Going to work? Ha, that’s not happening. getting out of bed to urinate? Screw that. Does that qualify as the art of doing nothing?

Is doing nothing truly an art, or is the intention to be all crafty thesaurus like and replace the word skill with art?

I would think doing nothing is a skill. Depending on the person, such as my husband, it may take years of practice and therapy before you’re highly skilled at doing nothing.

Here’s the thing, even when you’re doing nothing you are, in fact, doing something. Nothing is something, making the art of doing nothing an nonviable feat.

erika sauter

Written by

Editorial Reporter@ Hometown Current Newspaper. Iowa County, Iowa. Library patron, cat enthusiast & tree hugger. I write stories, snap photographs and farm.

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