The 30-Day 'Do Nothing' Challenge (For 5 Minutes a Day)

Thank goodness doing nothing is something, because I am very task-oriented and I like to-do lists. As long as there is something to write, read, clean, see, hear, learn or rearrange, I'm happy. And, there's more to my doing than being busy. For example, I count. I don't know why, and I've never told anyone except my sister. I count the chops when I am cutting my veggies, the forks and spoons when placing them in the cutlery drawer, the steps I take when climbing the stairs, the snips I cut from my basil plant and the flowers when placing them in a vase... actually... I've noticed my mind is always occupied with ongoing chatter about mostly nonsense.

So last week, I decided to become aware of the junk jumbling around in my thoughts, and realized I am perpetually busy in mind and anxious in soul. From worrying about what I will eat for dinner at 11 a.m. to lamenting about the few pounds I put on while in New York City last week (OK, I gained six pounds in five days, thanks to two trips to Serendipity 3 for my all-time favorite, frozen hot chocolate), I have no down time when I am up.

Based on the success of HuffPost blogger W. Aulstin Gardiner's success with the 30-Day Summer Shape Up Challenge, I am creating my own challenge to "do nothing" for five minutes every day, beginning the day this blog posts. I wish there was a formula to follow but one thing I have learned for sure -- the best success comes when following my inner GPS.

I began intuitively surfing the Internet and discovered, there is an "art to doing nothing," and the Zen folks have been working on it for nearly 15 centuries. Did you know that doing nothing, in the true sense of the word, can be overwhelming if we attempt to do too much nothing at once -- so we're supposed to do small nothings at first? Five minutes a day seems reasonable.

My first step is adding nothing to my to-do list. Remember when we were advised to create white space in our day planners -- which are now our iPhones, smartphones, Yahoo, Google and Outlook calendars? And remember when Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote the book, Wherever You Go There You Are illustrating how much of ourselves we take with us whether on the road or in the mind? So being diligent in this exercise is paramount. It is vital to take time to do nothing by putting it in the calendar. The next step is developing a practice. For me, sitting and watching my breath is boring. I'd rather be attentive to something in nature: the sun, wind, sounds, glistening of the water or awareness of how the summer humidity swells my fingers. And then... It's time to do nothing.

From what I hear, it's a very enjoyable experience. Try it today. I'd love to know how you do nothing, or if you even care and please share... I'll take all the tips I can get. Good luck to me and good luck to you!

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves -- slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

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For more on unplugging and recharging, click here.

 

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Comments

[tlc-ji]

11:37 AM on 07/11/2012

Love the idea, enjoy and good luck. I can relate as a busy bee sort, type A and then some. About 10 years ago I began exploring meditation practices and whew...it was tough to sit and stay put. I eventually came across transcendental meditation or TM and was seriously surprised and delighted to find that for me, doing this mediation technique (essentially doing nothing) was SO easy. This daily regular practice has transform my life and then some. Thanks for bringing attention to the huge collective need we have for some quiet from the inside out.

[Liz Sterling, M.A.]

10:49 PM on 07/18/2012

Thanks, tic-ji for your continued interest in self-transformation. You are an inspiration!

[Liz Sterling, M.A.]

11:02 PM on 07/18/2012

Thank you for sharing and your welcome. I have always said, see life from the inside out.

[Martha Gesegnet]

12:34 PM on 07/10/2012

In a culture that is always "plugged in" it's important to spend time just "being" in the present moment, rather than multi-tasking and thinking about tomorrow with out having even lived today. Stress levels and illness would decrease tremendously with this one simple change. I find teaching clients how to breathe for 5 minutes a day has improved their health and outlook on life. their happier, healthier, and calmer. http://www.niagaraayurveda.com

[Liz Sterling, M.A.]

10:52 PM on 07/18/2012

Thanks for the link. I was introduced to Ayurveda by Deepak Chopra and so appreciate the tenants and the results. It really does help to spend time " being," Martha. Yes!

[alleypanther]

05:06 AM on 07/10/2012

This was a fun and entertaining read and I want you to know I did nothing while I read it! The caption tugged at my soul as I love to do nothing. We spend to much time doing something and over look the importance of doing nothing! I knew by the third paragraph that your friends love you and enjoy spending time with you. Your very intelligent, that explains the racing thoughts. Your sister and I know that your obsessive compulsive, but that makes you entertaining to be around! Your highly intelligent and that's a trait of the condition. No big deal. Let's move along to doing nothing, shall we? According to time parameters, your in your second day, and I think, or suggest, you push that window out to at least 15 minutes, 5 minutes just isn't enough in my extensive experience! Let's not short change yourself, it's therapy for the soul and spirit, plain and simple. It's hard to define doing nothing, it changes from person to person. Thirtyfive years ago, I played in Rock bands for 10 years and doing nothing meant not working a real job. Careening thru day's and night's having more fun than Mom allowed, was doing nothing for me and that was something! I suggest you have fun doing nothing because as you said, watching your breath is boring, I agree! Please keep us informed on your progress, be inventive, you have a wonderful mind so give more thought, and time, doing nothing!

[Liz Sterling, M.A.]

11:01 PM on 07/18/2012

I was fortunate to be in Colorado while integrating the " 5 minute Do Nothing Challenge." It was easy and great. The rewards were numerous, including lots of appreciation for just "being." I won't be giving any thought to doing nothing, as you suggest, rather, I will just do it!

[coronaboy]

08:24 AM on 07/09/2012

As my wife can attest, I can do this!