Doing nothing

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

04.13.2020

Story by Seaman Darcy McAtee 

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)   

The one thing I learned from watching Tiger King is this: I’m doing just fine. I haven’t gone on any runs, and I haven’t learned a new skill. I haven’t tried my hand at cooking, and I haven’t used this time to practice painting. But at least I’m not illegally breeding tigers and hiring hitmen to assassinate annoying women.

During this pandemic, I’ve been bombarded with Facebook posts and articles about how to spend this time in isolation — all very inspiring: go on walks with your family, have game nights, pick up an instrument, start a workout routine, etc. However, I have found myself not doing any of these things. In fact, I have found myself doing … nothing. Which I’ve come to find out (initially through my own brand of self-awareness and then through actual research) that doing nothing can be extremely beneficial to one’s health.

According to Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, when you turn off all distractions, it allows space for your subconscious to expand, ultimately boosting your creativity. When distracted, our mind jumps to the most obvious answers when trying to solve problems. But once you take the time to exhaust those options, you end up thinking of breakthrough, inventive answers that can lead to some life-changing ideas.

For me, this translates not to any specific problem I may be having, but my life on a larger scale. Spending ten months on an aircraft carrier with 5,000 other Sailors was mentally and emotionally exhausting. I was fried — still am. This time, this precious time, is when I recharge my battery. Time to reflect and listen to myself. When you’re in a state of constant production and checking things off your to-do list, it’s easy to ignore emotions and miss out on what that inner voice is trying to tell you. When you quiet your mind and your surroundings, your gut feelings rise to the surface, which can lead you to certain decisions and a motivation to better your life.

This is easier said than done.

In today’s world, we are busy little bees. But we must think of it as an investment — an investment in our well-being. We must practice mindfulness. I know, I know. It sounds very hippie-dippie. But try it out! It’s so darn easy. Just sit on your couch and zone out. Really, that’s it. Let the thoughts come. Can’t sit still? Start slow, try it out for five minutes, then try 10 the next day. Soon you’ll be a professional like me, and you’ll spend days doing absolutely nothing.

“More and more of us find ourselves unable to juggle overwhelming demands and maintain a seemingly unsustainable pace. Paradoxically, the best way to get more done may be to spend more time doing less,” reports the New York Times. “A new and growing body of multidimensional research shows that strategic renewal — including short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office and longer, more frequent vacations — boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health.”

Great news for those busy bees! You want to stay productive? Do more of nothing. The problem for most people is perception. They feel doing nothing is a sign of irresponsibility or wasting time, so people feel guilty for being idle. Time to get over that. You are allowing yourself to process and to heal mentally, emotionally, spiritually. What is the Earth doing right now? She’s taking a breather and healing, as we should be.

So, don’t feel guilty about laying on the couch wearing the same fuzzy pajama tights that you got on clearance for five days in a row. Don’t feel guilty for not creating art projects or not learning a new language. Sitting in a chair and staring at the wall? Great. Continue to do that, but now look at it as your medical “me-time”. You are practicing mental health and investing in your future.

• Date Taken: 04.13.2020
• Date Posted: 12.31.2020 17:37
• Story ID: 386299
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: BOISE, IDAHO, US