Spend More Time Doing Nothing

Alisia Latoi
Dec 28, 2024
3 min read

It’s the end of 2024, already, or at least some would say. For me, the year was uncharacteristically long. I don’t want to focus on why that was. Rather, discuss the gains from what felt like a drawn-out year.

I’ve always had and have come to love a “boring” life. A simple, uncomplicated, life is my pride and joy. What little stress comes my way is felt quite forcefully considering the abundance of peace I work hard to maintain. While stressors weighed down throughout the year, I did manage to finish my next poetry collection, draft some future projects, and grow my YouTube channel by a margin.

However, by and large, I spent more time doing nothing. Which isn’t meant to imply I sat idly. “Doing nothing” by means of focusing away from distractions or demands and instead gave myself more space to be silent and mindful of my thoughts and feelings.

There are an ample number of benefits to sitting still for an extended period. It boosts productivity, creativity, and mood. Taking time to do nothing has also been proven to have improved learning skills. A challenge to doing nothing is unplugging from other people and/or social media. This means sometimes turning away conversational subjects from people close to you. As an avenue of protecting your peace and in order to optimize the benefits of doing nothing, you must remember that not everything is open for discussion. An article on “the benefits of doing nothing” (linked below) states, “when you allow yourself time to do nothing, you give your brain a chance to process experiences, consolidate memories, and reinforce learning. Your resting state is a powerful tool for regulating your emotions and maintaining the ability to focus. Rest will also help you make better decisions and be more productive.”

Some ways I have or will build upon the benefits of doing nothing:

Social media detox

This is something I have done periodically. Social media can be draining and over stimulating. I find that stepping away from it for a time enhances my appreciation of what’s real and happening in my life. I am a believer of not everything needs to be documented and shared with the world. Removing yourself from the film that is presented when engaging with social media creates an environment primed for productivity.

Glamorize working from home

I hit a slump at work (do I stay; do I go). I found myself not enjoying my employment and dragging myself out of bed each weekday morning. If you’re not looking forward to the next day, you’ll find every opportunity to delay sleeping and further delay rising. Well, given that I am not yet a New York Times bestseller, I still need my 9 to 5. In an attempt to get out of this slump, I will try to “glamorize working from home” by putting more effort in my appearance and creating some kind of separation between my workspace and living space. I love working from home and would never want to go back to working in the office. But it can get mundane at times. I have to refresh the beauty of it.

Create a night routine to maximize sleep

I am really aiming to become better at falling asleep. It’s one area that’s a constant struggle. So I am working towards achieving the optimal night routine. I will never be able to consistently wake up early enough to have time for myself before work each morning if I don’t get a decent amount of sleep. Once I have narrowed down nightly habits/ schedule that works regularly, I will be sharing the tricks.

Weekly yoga

I use to do yoga twice a week before the pandemic. Now that it hasn’t been a part of my weekly workouts, I feel noticeably stiffer and more busy-minded. Doing nothing is a big part of yoga and the meditation it encourages. I am looking to reengaging in the practice.

Similar to intermittent fasting for your digestion; doing nothing allows your mind time to recover.

Here’s to making the best of 2025,

Alisia Latoi