Jos Cerelius · Follow
5 min read · Oct 2, 2023
Picture this: You’re chilling on the couch, binge-watching your favourite show or simply staring at the ceiling, and suddenly, the guilt creeps in. You had a to-do list for today, half the day is spent, and you have done nothing. Society’s voice echoes in your head, telling you that you should be doing something productive. We live in a world that’s obsessed with productivity and always being “on.” We always have to reach our next goal, be proactive, do something, learn something, just do anything. But in the quest for constant achievement, we often forget that it’s perfectly fine to hit the pause button and embrace laziness.
I am lazy. If it were up to me, I would do nothing all day — read a book, watch series, eat takeaway food. Even though I love doing things, such as writing, or checking the boxes off of my to-do list, it can sometimes be such a hassle convincing myself. Even this story has been postponed for hours now, while I entertained myself with other things. As I was writing what I thought would be today’s piece, a realization hit me: why not write about this weird sensation? This ever-present feeling that I have to do something at all times.
Funnily enough, that’s what led me to the thought that it is okay to be lazy. In a world that often glorifies hustle culture and the relentless pursuit of productivity, it might seem counterintuitive to suggest that laziness can be a positive thing. However, if I had started writing immediately, I would never have realized that this is a topic that has continuously been on my mind for a long time. It was by postponing this, that the pictures of me being lazy appeared, and how much it annoyed me, that deep inside, I will always be lazy.
These days, I am calling a Buddhist temple my home. Meditation is very important here — it is literally just doing nothing. Empty your mind, recharge your batteries, focus on your breathing. Me doing nothing is actually applauded here, probably for the first time in my life.
In a world that values achievement and efficiency, we rarely allow ourselves the luxury of doing nothing. Yet, doing nothing, or simply being lazy, can be a profound and rejuvenating experience. It’s an opportunity to disconnect from the noise of the world, be present in the moment, and savour the beauty of idleness. While I am no long-term practitioner of meditating, I find it challenging. Normally when I do nothing, I don’t really do nothing. I entertain myself with books, TV series, gaming, or a thousand other things. Now? I really have to do nothing.
After meditating daily for a month, I finally manage to calm my mind — sometimes. I find the exercise peaceful, and yet even as I am doing this, a little voice in my head is saying; think about this, what about that.
Think of doing nothing as a way to recharge your batteries. Just like your phone needs a break from constant use, so do you. Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re slacking off; it means you’re giving yourself the gift of rest and rejuvenation. Some people are advocating for doing nothing by meditation, but the more I have thought (read, postponed) about it, the more I am getting convinced that you can do whatever you feel like. Doing nothing is not just meditation, self-reflection or whatever. Doing nothing is doing what you want to, without the fear of judgement, nor the guilt of doing something.
Ever notice how some of your best ideas pop into your head when you’re in the shower or just laying lazily around? Doing nothing can be the bed for creativity. It’s in these moments of idleness that we free our minds and let them wander freely, connecting dots we haven’t thought about. Maybe it is while watching a series that you get interested in a new topic. Perhaps you are idly gaming, and a feeling creeps up in you: “I should read this book” or “I should learn how to knit."
It’s so easy to get caught up, always having to do something. But in those moments when you give yourself permission to be lazy, you break free from the cycle of busyness. You let go of the constant need to be productive, and you embrace the beautiful art of doing nothing. So, my fellow comrades in laziness, let’s celebrate the joy of doing nothing and remember that sometimes, it’s perfectly okay to do our version of nothing at all.
Imagine a world where we all had the freedom to be lazy when we needed it. A world where we didn’t judge ourselves or others for taking a day off, for resting, or for doing absolutely nothing. By allowing ourselves to be lazy, we pave the way for a healthier, more balanced life.
Let’s recognize that doing nothing is not a flaw but a vital part of our humanity. It’s a reminder that we are not machines, but complex beings who need rest, reflection, and relaxation. So, the next time you find yourself indulging in a moment of doing nothing, relish it, savour it, and remind yourself that it’s not just okay — it’s essential. It’s a gift you give to yourself in a world that often forgets the value of slowing down.
