Just to Be: Do You Know How To Do Nothing?

J U ST To Be Do you know how to do nothing?

When was the last time you did nothing? Or did something with simply no agenda? Nothing necessarily to be gained but pure enjoyment?

The last several months have afforded some individuals time to embark on this journey. There has been more time than conceivable to really do just that: nothing. But perhaps you have felt it too. A steady guilt creeping in, warning you of your lack of doing or accomplishing. How dare we sit and binge a season of the newly released “Friends” on HBO Max and do nothing else!?

On the other side, there are many of you piled with extra responsibilities; caring for more than your share because school or daycare is closed, or work has ramped up because of the time at home (funny how that worked out). With less time to accomplish all your new responsibilities, your personal time is now in the negative. Your workout or morning coffee might be the closest you have to down- or “me” time, let alone, pleasure.

No matter the degree of responsibility, there is an overwhelming set precedence of not allowing oneself to truly enjoy things without an agenda behind the action. To read because you like to read. To go for a walk just to be outside and experience the beautiful weather bestowed on us in Michigan this season.

I was in search of guides in calming my nerves stemming from anxiety of unemployment and guilt laying a foundation stating I was not doing enough. In that search, I came across the quite literally titled book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell.

Odell turns to philosophers to share lessons in how to exist in a more aware and delighted fashion. To take in moments beyond the constant notifications and needs the world demands of us. The problem is one cannot live only like this. Obviously, there are points where some responsibilities, like eating, are intrinsic to survival.

In many of her referred cases, she appears to continually reinforce the idea of being in the moment. How many things do we miss when we’re focused on the laundry list of things we need to attend to constantly? When we left the office today, that was supposed to be the “turning off” point. But many of us can’t even do that anymore. We constantly have our attention grabbed by notifications on our phones and laptops of work emails that need attending to. Or someone just posted something on Facebook (maybe not even on your wall, they just shared something in general). And everything needs a purpose in doing it. Now with the pandemic and many working from home, how do you separate that life?

Here’s a fun question. When was the last time you watched something on TV (whether streaming, television, film, etc.), and didn’t look at your phone once? What are you missing by staring at the screen and not watching the film? You’re now doing something else, because that has “purpose”—you still feel like you’re accomplishing something rather than taking in the storied media.

The Italians have a word, asolare, which means “to spend time in a delightful, but meaningless manner.” Oddly enough, the country known for its large, multiple course meals and midday closing hours to have supper with their families, lay claim to the unique word… it’s not something found translatable in other languages. And understandably, because in many cultures, if you’re not doing something, your worth is, well…less.

Think back to your day today. What did you do? And what was the purpose of said thing(s)? Did you work out? Eat breakfast? Go for a walk? Read? Run errands?

Continue through that list. Does every item on the agenda have a reason? Is there anything that didn’t? And if not, when was the last thing you did “just because?” Find some time for asolare.

Get out there and do nothing!

Lalita Chemello is a Detroit-born writer now living in west Michigan. She’s written/edited for New Roads lifestyle magazine and Panorama. Her other passions are photography, motorsports & screenwriting. You can also occasionally find her around town on her vintage two wheels.