We’ve got to Do…Nothing!  ~By Ann C Koshy

Hustle culture in the modern era prompts us to continuously do tasks to feel productive or feel like you’re not doing nothing. It involves the  usage of ambition and continuous productivity  as part of their everyday way of life and where failure or success is based on personal choice and responsibility (Chairunnisah & Kurnia, 2023).

It is brought about by societal expectations to prioritize academic or work achievements over social well-being. This follows into adulthood, where employees are often rewarded for overworking, reinforcing the notion that success comes at the cost of personal time and well-being (Наукові Конференції, n.d.). Hence, it’s easy to be influenced by what we see on social media. It showcases the lives of people that seem to be fulfilling and yet, while comparing, we forget how often these reels and posts of theirs are selective. This comparison and constant critical self-judgement slowly chips us down to be exhausted, helpless and have low self-esteem.

Trying to keep up with this life, often leads to mental and physical exhaustion and burnout. We might appear to ‘do nothing’ or just ‘rest’ and this is often mistaken for laziness or procrastination, when it’s actually a way for the body to simply take time to relax and recuperate.

Take for example the tip of the tongue phenomenon. You’re desperately trying to recall something that is hovering right at the tip of your tongue but you’re simply unable to grasp that word. This  can get quite annoying as you grapple to find the right words. However, the solution to this is to take a step back from it and the answer will just pop in your head! 

Or when you’re trying to work on an answer but you don’t know how to solve it, you move away from that task and do something else like just walking, breathing, showers, simple chores or a quick nap, and then suddenly the right solution appears!

The reason for this is incubation where, simply put, you are being passive while the brain is actively working on memory retrieval and the problem, subconsciously picking up retrieval cues or hints that will help it find the answer. In other words, stopping thinking or doing nothing does not mean that you are entirely giving up on the problem; rather, it is by stepping away or withdrawing from it can actually lead to ‘insight’ or a clarity which wasn’t seen before.

Drinking 10 cups of coffee and overworking ourselves does more harm than good, instead do:

1. Mindfulness practice. This is often seen as doing ‘something’ when in reality, it involves just ‘being’ in the present and to be aware of what’s going around you by calmly observing without acting on anything. Jon Kabat-Zinn says that ‘Non-doing’ means letting things be as they are, without trying to fix them, solve them, or push them away. Rather than passivity, it involves presence. 
2. Grounding through 5 senses is a relaxation technique that prevents spiraling and growing anxiety. It simply asks you to take notice of the 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste (Shukla, 2020).
3. Apply the Dutch principle of ‘Niksen’ which refers to doing nothing even if its just being idle, or doing something without purpose. This contrasts with mindfulness as it does not require focus but rather lets your mind wander. For example, just watching people pass by (Gottfried, 2019).

There are numerous benefits to this such as:

1. Generation of creative pathways and ideas.
2. Gives time for reflection.
3. State of relaxation that will be beneficial in the long-run.
4. Mind will be decluttered.
5. Leaves you more clear, relaxed and calm.

As such, leaving time for yourself to ‘do nothing’ is as essential as to ‘do something.’ The breakthroughs we receive after such periods is what revitalizes us and gives us the encouragement and precision to work not just harder, but also smarter. After all, our body, like our phone, needs a bit of break, recharge and fuel to function well. Doing nothing and slowing down is the new fast.

 References

Chairunnisah, N. A., & Kurnia, N. L. (2023). Hustle culture in Social Media: Exploring the imagined success in the modern era. Athena Journal of Social Culture and Society, 1(4), 180–191. https://doi.org/10.58905/athena.v1i4.151

HUSTLE CULTURE: THE PATH TO BURNOUT AND STRATEGIES FOR SOLVING DECLINE IN COMPANY PRODUCTIVITY – Наукові конференції. (n.d.). http://www.konferenciaonline.org.ua/ua/article/id-1900/

Hanley-Dafoe, R., EdD. (2025, February 4). We can’t be productive 24/7. We need time to rest and do “nothing.” Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202501/why-doing-nothing-is-doing-something-good-for-yourself

Gottfried, S. (2019, July 12). Niksen is the Dutch lifestyle concept of doing Nothing—And you’re about to see it everywhere. TIME. https://time.com/5622094/what-is-niksen/

Shukla, A. (2020, March 27). A 5-Step Mindfulness Grounding Technique to Ease Anxiety & Why mindfulness works. Cognition Today. https://cognitiontoday.com/5-step-mindfulness-grounding-technique-to-ease-anxiety-why-it-works/