Look, I’ve Got a Confession to Make
I’m a recovering doer. A serial overachiever. A professional people-pleaser. And it’s exhausting. I’m talking about the kinda tired that makes you wanna scream into a pillow at 11:30pm on a Tuesday night. You know the one.
I’m not sure when it started exactly. Maybe it was back in college when I took on that extra internship just to impress some guy named Marcus who honestly didn’t even care. Or maybe it’s just in my DNA. My mom’s always been the type to volunteer for everything, so I guess I learned from the best. (Thanks, Mom!)
But lately, I’ve been thinking alot about the opposite of doing. The art of… not doing. And it’s harder than you’d think.
My Wake-Up Call
About three months ago, I was having coffee with my friend Sarah at this little place on 5th. I was mid-rant about how much I had going on – work, side projects, some committment I’d made to help organize a conference in Austin – when she just looked at me and said, “You know, it’s okay to do nothing sometimes.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But the thing is, doing nothing feels wrong to me. It feels like I’m failing. Like I’m not living up to some invisible standard I’ve set for myself. And honestly? It sucks.
The Science of Doing Nothing
So I did what any self-respecting overachiever would do – I researched it. Turns out, there’s actual science behind this “doing nothing” thing. It’s called “non-action” and it’s kinda a big deal. According to some study I found (okay, fine, I asked my colleague named Dave to find it for me), taking time to just… be, can actually make you more productive in the long run.
I mean, think about it. When’s the last time you just sat there and did nothing? Not scrolling through your phone, not watching TV, not even reading a book. Just… existing. If you’re like me, it’s been a while. And that’s a problem.
My Failed Experiment in Doing Nothing
So I decided to try it. One Saturday morning, I woke up and said to myself, “Today, I’m doing nothing.” And let me tell you, it was harder than I thought. I kept reaching for my laptop, then stopping myself. I’d start to pick up my phone, then put it back down. It was physicaly painful.
I lasted about 36 hours. Then I caved and started working on this article. But here’s the thing – those 36 hours? They were amazing. I read a book (for fun!), took a long walk, even napped. And you know what? I didn’t feel guilty about any of it. (Well, maybe a little. Old habits die hard.)
The Email Marketing Detour
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “How does this relate to email marketing?” (Yes, I can hear you. It’s creepy.) But here’s the thing – even in marketing, sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do. You ever get those emails that are just… too much? The ones that make you wanna unsubscribe on the spot?
Exactly. So when you’re planning your next campaign, maybe take a step back. Ask yourself, “Is this email necessary?” Or are you just sending it because you feel like you have to? And if it’s the latter, maybe don’t. Maybe just… don’t. Try it. You might like it.
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The Tangent: My Cat’s Better at This Than Me
You know who’s great at doing nothing? My cat, Whiskers. That furry little beast does nothing all day. And he loves every minute of it. He doesn’t feel guilty about it. He doesn’t worry about what he “should” be doing. He just… is. And honestly, I aspire to be more like him. (But maybe not in the whole “knocking things off tables” way. That’s where I draw the line.)
So What’s the Point?
I’m not saying you should spend all day every day doing nothing. That’s not the point. The point is to find a balance. To give yourself permission to take a break. To understand that it’s okay to not be productive 24/7.
And if you can’t do that, well, maybe start small. Try doing nothing for an hour. Or even 30 minutes. See how it feels. You might be surprised.
And if you’re not? Well, at least you tried. And that’s something, right?
About the Author: Hi, I’m Alex. I’m a senior editor with a serious caffeine addiction and a love for all things lifestyle. I’ve been writing for over 20 years, and I’m still not sure what I’m doing half the time. But I’m having fun figuring it out. When I’m not writing, you can find me binge-watching Netflix, trying out new recipes (that usually end in disaster), or attempting to nap like my cat. You can find me on Twitter @AlexWritesStuff.
