You must be able to nitpick
to come up with brilliant Ideas
The art of doing nothing
“Busy, busy, busy,” you probably hear more often when you ask someone how things are going. A full agenda is not necessarily wrong, but don’t underestimate the power of (resting)! Few languages have a single term for the concept of doing nothing. The Dutch language does have this. In fact; the Dutch even coined the verb “to do nothing. Despite the fact that we are technically equipped with language, we really should ‘niksen’ more often. It is good to stop now and then, to zoom out, to relax. Research even shows that doing nothing is actually productive.
Mind wandering
Napping doesn’t mean that you are completely silent. Letting your mind wander while doing something passive is just as much a part of it. This phenomenon is also called mind wandering. A study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology substantiates the positive effect of mind wandering. When your attention does not actively go anywhere for a while, mental space is created to reflect on goals, plans or solutions. For example, you are vacuuming and suddenly you get a clear insight. That’s the creative effect of thought drive. Getting stuck feels less demanding when you allow yourself to wander. Your brain sometimes finds a route you consciously didn’t see.
Optimal productivity
Rest is essential for performance. Sleep restores, but that doesn’t mean that recovery happens only at night. Taking regular breaks throughout the day helps maintain concentration. Sleep expert Merijn van de Laar emphasized in the podcast Lesson Learned, that a lack of daytime rest affects your sleep. Consequently, resting during the day provides more energy than you think. A good daytime rhythm feeds your night and makes you more productive when you return to work.
Nothing for a while
Resting is a strategic choice. By consciously scheduling “nothing moments,” you give yourself space to solve problems and get goals in focus. You take a walk outside, listen to music or look out the window. Napping has no fixed form. It is your own interpretation. The question is simple: what small break helps you relax?
Source: Inspired by Distraction: Mind Wandering Facilitates Creative Incubation. Psychological Science
Source: Pros and cons of a wandering mind: A prospective study. Frontiers in Psychology
