I used to master the Zen-like art of doing nothing. I was usually one of the first among my college friends to achieve nothingness on a Saturday when I should have gone to the library or architecture studio. But I wasn’t wasting time. I was doing nothing. It is an important aspect of life.
Sure, we all have in inkling on how to Do Nothing. We all know how to just lay around and waste time. But I’m not talking about wasting time. I’m talking about Zen here.
I know, I know. You are too busy to do nothing. You don’t have time. And when you do Do Nothing, your mind just can’t get around work and family responsibilities and mortgages and groceries and all the daily affairs that go on in life. You can’t relax when your head is racing. I so get that. But you must achieve nothingness soon. It is imperative to your well being. Trust me on this (but not these people ... DoNothingDotOrg ... they just want your money).
Doing Nothing (or DN from here on out) is an art form. Here are some tips:
Start Slowly
You can’t master DN all at once. Sometime it helps to start out slowly. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Find a park at your lunch hour and just go sit in a shady spot or sunny spot of your choice and relax. Don’t bring a book. Don’t listen to music. Just sit comfortably for five to 10 minutes. Or, after you get home from work, sit on the back porch and stare out to the horizon. Let your mind shut out any and all distractions. Turn off your cell phones and the tv. Leave the computer off. DN demands no communication.
You can close your eyes. But don’t fall asleep. That is doing something. It is called a nap. DN is not Napping.
Practice DN as often as possible. Every day is good. Nobody becomes a DN Master over night without weeks, months, and maybe years of practice.
Relax
If you are tense in any way, DN can not be achieved. So, get comfortable. Breathe deeply and regularly. Stretch out. Put your feet up. Hammocks were made for those who DN. Once you feel relaxed, see if you can relax even more.
Enjoy a Beverage (and maybe a snack)
DN is sometimes best when enjoyed by beverage. Wine and beer are probably best. Concentrate on the liquid and the Art of the Sip (to be blogged at another time). Savor the drink. If drinking wine, however, try to ignore any and all attempts to find ways of describing the wine. Then you are wine tasting, WT. WT is not DN. If having a beer, well, you can’t really over think a beer, so just enjoy beer. A cold bottle with a lime always helps.
Advanced DNers might try some light snacks. Cheese and crackers are good with wine. Chips and salsa are good with beer. Eat slowly and leisurely. Don’t concentrate on eating. Just casually play with your food as needed. And, don’t make too much out of the food because then you are Snacking, not DN. Nobody can achieve perfect DN with a grumbly tummy. So, food is OK.
Seek Out Nature
Once you can regularly achieve a Zen-like state in your daily dose of DN, you might start venturing out into a more natural setting. The beach is perfect. The bank of a river is always an excellent choice. Nature and water together are usually solid choices for DN. Any place where you can be completely away from the sounds of those racing between life’s chores are the best places in nature. So, get outta Dodge.
DN with Others
This is a highly tricky level of DN. Inevitably, getting others involved starts things like Talking, Cuddling, Tickling, among other things. You must practice DN with only another practiced DNer. The rules must be worked out ahead of time. To achieve DNness with another, however, is the most rewarding level of DN there is.
Good luck. Let me know how you do and if I can be of assistance in any way.
DN Master Mud
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