My 214-Day Experiment in Laziness
Look, I gotta be honest with you. I’m Sarah, and I’m a recovering overachiever. Always been. From that one time in 1998 when little Timmy Johnson beat me to the top of the jungle gym (still mad about that, Timmy), I’ve been in a constant state of go-go-go.
Then, about three months ago, I had a minor existential crisis. Not the kind where you question your life’s purpose or anything dramatic like that. No, this was more like… why am I always so tired? I mean, I’m not even doing anything important most of the time. Just… stuff. Busywork. Life admin. The dreaded ‘adulting’.
So, I decided to do nothing. For 214 days. And let me tell you, it was harder than I thought it would be.
Day 1: The Great To-Do List Purge
First things first. I had to deal with the beast that was my to-do list. You know the one. It’s got ‘buy more ketchup’ next to ‘call mom’ next to ‘write a novel’ like they’re equally important. Spoiler: they’re not.
I sat down with my list (which was, frankly, embarrassing) and started crossing things out. Not ‘do later’ or ‘maybe someday’—just straight-up deleting. By the end, I had a grand total of 12 things I actually needed to do. Twelve! And half of those were just ‘pay bills’.
My friend Marcus (let’s call him Marcus because his real name is embarrassing) laughed when I told him. ‘You’re not doing nothing,’ he said. ‘You’re just doing less. There’s a difference.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But it was a start.
The Problem With ‘Doing Nothing’
Here’s the thing about doing nothing: it’s not nothing. It’s active. It’s deliberate. And it’s really, really hard to do properly.
Take, for example, my attempt at a ‘nothing’ weekend last month. I woke up, made coffee, and sat on the couch. Great start, right? Then I checked my phone. And my email. And latest news today headlines (because, you know, it’s important to stay informed).
By 11:30am, I’d done a load of laundry, organized my spice rack (don’t judge), and made a grocery list. I’d also eaten half a bag of chips and watched 17 minutes of a true crime documentary before deciding I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth for it.
Doing nothing is hard, okay? It’s not just about not doing stuff. It’s about not feeling guilty for not doing stuff. And that, my friends, is a whole other ball game.
Why We’re All Terrible At It
We live in a culture that glorifies busy. You know the type: ‘I’m so busy, I haven’t slept in three days, I’m running on caffeine and sheer willpower alone.’ Yeah, no thanks.
I asked my colleague named Dave (real name, but he’s kinda private) about this. He said, ‘People wear busy like a badge of honor. It’s like they think if they’re not constantly doing something, they’re failing at life.’
And honestly? He’s not wrong. We’ve all been there. That feeling of dread when someone asks what you’ve been up to and you say ‘not much’ and they look at you like you’ve just admitted to a crime.
But here’s the secret: doing nothing is productive. It’s necessary. It’s how we recharge, reflect, and actually get stuff done when we do decide to do something.
The 36-Hour Rule
So, how do you actually do nothing? Here’s what worked for me: the 36-hour rule.
Every couple of weeks, I take 36 hours where I do… nothing. No work, no chores, no errands. Just me, my thoughts, and whatever I feel like doing in the moment. Sometimes that’s reading. Sometimes it’s staring at the wall. Once, it was organizing my sock drawer (don’t ask).
The key is to not feel guilty about it. It’s not procrastination. It’s not laziness. It’s necessary downtime. And if anyone gives you grief about it, just tell them to talk to me. I’ll set them straight.
But What About All the Stuff?
Okay, but what about all the stuff that needs doing? The chores, the errands, the life admin? Doesn’t it just pile up when you’re doing nothing?
Short answer: yes. But here’s the thing. It’s gonna pile up anyway. You might as well enjoy the ride.
Long answer: no. Because when you’re not constantly in ‘go’ mode, you’re better able to tackle the stuff that actually needs doing. You’re more focused, more present, and less likely to half-ass everything because you’re spread too thin.
Plus, when you’re not constantly doing, you start to notice what’s actually important. That pile of laundry? Not important. That phone call with your mom? Important. Suddenly, it’s a lot easier to prioritize.
Final Thoughts (Or Lack Thereof)
So, that’s my story. 214 days of doing nothing. Or, more accurately, 214 days of trying to do nothing and failing most of the time. But that’s okay. Because the point isn’t to be perfect. It’s to be present. To be intentional. To do less, but better.
And if anyone gives you crap about it, just tell them to talk to Sarah. I’ll set them straight.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson is a senior magazine editor with 20+ years of experience writing feature articles for major publications. She’s also a recovering overachiever, a part-time sock drawer organizer, and a full-time advocate for the art of doing nothing. You can find her on the couch, probably eating chips.
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