The Gentle Art of Doing Nothing

Over the recent long weekends, I gave myself permission to do something truly radical: nothing.

Well, not nothing-nothing — there was tea, reading, staring out windows, sitting in the sauna and eating the occasional seasonally shaped chocolate — but I didn’t make plans, tick things off, or attempt to be productive. Mostly, I tried to compete with my cat in the fine art of napping. Mr Spooks remains undefeated, of course, but I’m not ruling out a rematch.

We often underestimate the power of slowing down — until we do it. Whether it’s a long weekend or just an afternoon, pressing pause gives our bodies and brains the space they need to reset. It’s good for our physical health, yes, but also for our clarity, creativity, relationships, and ability to return to work with something more than just determination with perspective.

When we stop sprinting through our to-do lists and allow stillness, we often find something valuable waiting: insight, humour, connection, energy, calm. Sometimes, all five.

If you had the chance to slow down over the recent public holidays, I hope you’re feeling some of those benefits now. And if you didn’t, if your break was full of obligations or just didn’t go the way you hoped, be gentle with yourself. It’s never too late to find a pocket of peace.

The cat has taught me that, too. He never rushes - except for his zoomies time. He never feels guilty for snoozing. And yet, somehow, he is always exactly where he needs to be.

Here’s to more rest, more perspective, and enjoying the gentle art of nothing.