Doing Nothing
A few weeks ago I wrote about the way out society has a hyper-focus on gauging value on how much money you earn from an activity. I feel I rambled a bit at the end, circling near a point but not quite getting there.
One of the ideas I wanted to convey was the idea that just because something doesn’t make you money doesn’t mean it has no value. Expanding on that I want to start with a quote from our good friend Winnie-the-Pooh:
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing all the time.”
It’s meant as a joke and a pseudo-philosophy but there’s some truth there. There is value in “doing nothing”. Even beyond what I was talking about earlier, that there is value in things beyond making money. There really is value is doing nothing. That is a concept I think we’ve lost as of late.
We listen to the podcast “Wow in the World” with my son. They teach about interesting topics in silly ways that he loves. One of the topics they discussed was about how being bored can be good for you. Giving the mind time to process and think is beneficial.
On a podcast I listen to, Hello Internet, one of the hosts talked about feeling like he’s less able to concentrate on things than he used to be. He had a theory that all the quick headlines and instant gratification of the internet was eroding his ability to focus. On another podcast, Dear Hank and John, the host felt the social internet was making him angry and despondent. He felt the world was darker than it probably actually was.
All three of these ideas came up in a narrow window of time and got me thinking. What truth do they have? I get sucked into the internet rabbit hole sometimes and while I don’t engage on social media much (maybe to my career detriment) I do consume a lot of media. Hell, I heard these ideas because I listen to at least three different podcasts, not to mention movies, tv, video games, etc.
So I did an experiment. In the morning, after I drop my son off at school, I go for walks at a nearby park. Normally, I would listen to a podcast or an audiobook. So I stopped doing that. I just let my mind wander. It was a bit boring but it had a measurable effect. My writing output rocketed up.
Oftentimes, after my walk, I would get home, sit down and stare at my computer screen. Even when I knew what came next the worlds wouldn’t flow. So I would then browse the internet. Eventually, I might get to throwing some words on a page but it was a struggle. After a walk and not listening to anything, I was able to get right to work.
Sometimes I would think about what I would write. But not always. I think it was more a matter of clearing my head. It gave me time to consciously plan the next section or the time to get my brain clear of distractions.
I’ve also been making a concerted effort to read more books at bedtime rather than my phone, or playing a video game or watching tv.. Sleep has come more easily. Some of its probably related to the effect blue light on screens have on our natural ability to sleep. But mostly, I think it’s just my brain has to work a little harder reading so it realizes the bodies tired.
Does this mean I think all of this media (podcasts, tv, books, movies, games) etc are bad for us? No, of course not. That would be extreme. I still listen to podcasts/audiobooks while I drive or do housework. They’re still useful in helping make unpleasant tasks manageable.
But sometimes, I’m turning them off. I’m on FB far less, even though I was never as into it as most people. I’ll still browse Reddit but mostly for updates on things. I’ll visit the Discord for Many Worlds Fiction but I don’t fret about it being pretty quiet.
In fact, I’m enjoying the quiet.
