Doing Nearly Nothing

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“Recognize what is simple. Keep what is essential.” – Lao Tzu

I spent some time this past weekend sitting on the porch of an AirBnB cabin on Whidbey Island doing nothing. Well, I was drinking tea so not technically nothing. I was going to say maybe more accurately, I was just doing that one thing so I wasn’t multi-tasking. But I was eating popcorn along with the tea so perhaps that is multi-tasking.

Okay, maybe we can agree I was doing nearly nothing. I was sitting on the porch with my tea and popcorn not doing anything else. I didn’t have my laptop open or my phone within reach. My kids were off at a playground with a friend, so it was just me and Cooper the dog, looking at the bay.

I knew the next thing I needed to do to get ready for dinner but I hadn’t moved yet. I was trying to extend the moment of doing nearly nothing for as long as possible. I found this to be extremely difficult – to drop the should and the oughts and just sit.

It reminded me of the question of whether finding inner peace will ruin our ability to get things done. I have both heard and thought myself, if I wasn’t so ________________, I wouldn’t be nearly as productive. Fill in the blank with ambitious, anxious, efficient, motivated, OCD or whatever else suits you. Sometimes it seems to me, with Buddhism especially, if I let it all go, what’s going to be left?

I live by a lot of rules that help me get stuff done. Rules like:

  • No tv after the kids go to bed.
  • If you notice something needs to be done, do it now. And really, with two kids, a dog, a cat, a job and a house – how hard is it to notice something that needs to be done?
  • If you pick something up, put it away properly so you only handle it once. This includes emails and work tasks.
  • Go to bed by 10:30 so you can get up by 5:30 to get sacred time and do it all again.

My structures help me but also limit me. They keep my head down so that I don’t notice other things.  When I let them go, even for just a short while, I’m happier because my head’s up.

In the few moments when I’ve been able to experience something akin to inner peace, here’s what I’ve noticed: that I’m able to float peacefully along with the stream instead of trying to constantly generate my own power. That the biggest effort is quieting the should and oughts in my head and then everything else flows rather nicely.

I’m so grateful I was able to practice doing nearly nothing this weekend. I need to do it more.

34 thoughts on “Doing Nearly Nothing”

  2. I imagine your readers are amazed at what you do, Wynne. I sure am.

    The old airline advice is always helpful. When the oxygen mask comes down, put it on yourself first, lest you become unable to help anyone else or yourself.

    Some things will wait, but taking care of yourself — not so much. Easy for me to say, since I am retired.

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  3. You sparked memories for me Wynne. A couple of decades ago I was managing a number of things like you and boy was it sometimes difficult, both physically and mentally, to take time out. Thinking about it now it was more difficult mentally. I may have been able to physically relax but my mind was usually elsewhere. It only took a few extra family concerns and worries on top of existing workload to eventually burn me out completely – without me initially realising it of course – forcing medical help for recovery.
    Yes, we all need to make the time to practise ‘doing nearly nothing’ which turns in to yet another task in itself of course 🙃
    Thank you for the reminder 👌

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing that story, Margaret. I really feel you in the description of being able to physically relax but the difficulty in mentally relaxing. And you’re so right – doing nearly nothing is another task in itself! Thank you!

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  5. Doing nearly nothing is a great way to open your mind up to thoughts and a flow of thinking that leads to creativity and deeper things. You’re so right in noticing its infrequency, especially with kids, dogs, home and life to keep buoyed. Responsibility and busyness steals that peace from us, but we have to build some boundaries to steal it back. So glad you got a few minutes in. I’m trying too. 💕

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  12. I love your doing nearly nothing. You and Cooper looking at the bay, that’s so beautiful and relaxing. I think that not having any device next to you is already doing nothing, even though it’s not technically correct, it means a lot. We should do it more often, it would make us feel more connected with the world. Beautiful post and photo Wynne!

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  16. I love those peaceful, uninterrupted, solo moments when I’m literally filled with gratitude because I’m so grateful to be doing nothing. I feel connected to everything and nothing. It’s weirdly beautiful. We need more of that. Hugs, C

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