The Art of Doing Nothing
Image source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/doing-nothing-done-chuang-tzu-suresh-kumar-soni
In a world that glorifies busyness, the art of doing nothing is often misunderstood. We equate idleness with laziness, forgetting that stillness is not an absence of productivity but a quiet rebellion against the chaos of modern life.
True rest—intentional, mindful, and unburdened by guilt—allows the mind to wander, creativity to flourish, and the soul to breathe. It is in these moments of nothingness that we reconnect with ourselves, find clarity, and rediscover the joy of simply being. So, why is it so hard to relax the mind?
Like with everything else, it’s a lack of practice. The more we practice something, the better we become at it. But why should we practice calming our minds? Just as the body needs physical rest from working out, the mind needs time to refresh and replenish. And that only comes from intentionally taking time to rest.
A clear mind increases creativity both at home and at work. If you are in a leadership position, you need a clear and rested mind to make sound decisions consistently.
Learning how to relax the mind daily is important. Here are five things that help in calming and resting the mind:
- Be intentional about resting your mind. Without intentionality, there is no commitment and goals become only wishes.
- Plan time to rest your body and mind. Just as we have time to sleep at night, we should plan time to rest both the body and the mind.
- Share your goal with someone you can stay accountable to. Sharing our goals increases the chances of us meeting the goal.
- Track the times you rest your mind each day. Tracking helps to show results and stay motivated.
- Set the goal of 15 minutes of mind rest each day.
What are some ways you rest your mind? Tell us in the comment section below.
By Marcia (Marci) Malzah