There’s a phrase that’s been orbiting my mind lately, and the more I sit with it, the more truth I find in its simplicity:
“Doing nothing is doing something.”
Now, that might sound counter-intuitive (maybe even a bit self indulgent) especially in a world that demands we stay busy, produce relentlessly, and measure our worth by how much we’ve done in a day. But let’s go deeper.
The Cultural Curse of Constant Doing
We live in a culture that treats stillness like a sin and rest like a reward you have to earn. If we’re not checking boxes or pushing forward, we’re “falling behind.” We’re told to hustle, grind, rise and grind again, and never waste a second.
But here’s the truth: Not every moment needs to be maximized.
Sometimes the most important work we can do is nothing at all.
No goals. No agenda. Just being.
Stillness Isn’t Stagnation
In Zen philosophy, there’s a concept called Wu Wei, often translated as “non-doing” or “effortless action.” It’s not about laziness. It’s about alignment. It’s the art of allowing, of flowing with life rather than fighting it.
When we step back and do nothing, we give life the chance to unfold without our constant interference. We stop trying to control every outcome and let clarity rise from the silence. It’s not passivity, it’s presence.
The Brain on Nothing
Science backs this up. When we’re not actively working or focusing, our brains switch into something called the default mode network. That’s where the magic happens — ideas incubate, patterns emerge, memories consolidate, and creativity stirs.
That’s why your best ideas often arrive in the shower, or when you’re staring out a window, or while taking a quiet walk. You weren’t working on the idea, but something deeper in you was.
Doing nothing isn’t a break from creativity. It’s the soil that creativity grows in.
As a Songwriter, I Know This All Too Well
Some of my best lyrics haven’t come from sitting at a desk, pen in hand, grinding out lines of words strung together to create some semblance of a verse or chorus. They’ve come from a late-night drive, a quiet moment with a cup of coffee, or just lying on the floor listening to the ceiling fan spin its quiet spell.
That silence? It’s not empty. It’s pregnant with possibility.
Creativity isn’t always about striking the hammer — it’s also about letting the metal cool. Letting the noise fade so the melody can whisper its way into your consciousness.
The Fear of the Void
Let’s be honest: doing nothing can feel uncomfortable.
It exposes us to ourselves. It strips away the distractions and asks us to face what’s there in the silence. But that’s where the good stuff lives. That’s where the insights bloom and the inner compass resets.
Doing nothing takes courage.
It’s an act of rebellion against a culture that confuses busyness with value. It’s saying:
“I don’t need to chase every moment.
I trust that rest has value.
I know that space is sacred.”
How to Do Nothing (Intentionally)
If you want to give this a go, here are a few gentle invitations:
- Schedule time to be unscheduled. Let at least part of your day be aimless.
- Stare out a window. Watch clouds or trees move — no agenda.
- Go screen-free. Disconnect from the algorithm and reconnect with your breath.
- Nap or lie down. Do it without guilt. Let your body speak.
- Sit in stillness. Not to achieve anything — just to feel what it’s like to be here.
So yes… doing nothing is doing something.
It’s restoration. It’s integration. It’s a kind of spiritual defiance in a world that confuses productivity with purpose.
Let this be your reminder:
You don’t always need to be moving to be moving forward because sometimes, just sometimes, the most profound progress happens in silence.
Peace,
Corey 🙂
