Do Nothing.
I’ve had a book on my nightstand since March 2020 entitled, Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee. I remember when I got it right as we all went into lockdown, I opened the package and I thought, “How apropos.”
Here we are in August 2021 and I haven’t had time to read the book about how to do nothing. Now I know that leadership requires thoughtful time. I exhort my clients to take five minutes - just five minutes a day to journal, think and dream. And I’ve seen those who take to the habit have amazing results in growing their presence. But even five minutes of being thoughtful is still five minutes of doing something – not nothing.
The thought of doing nothing is, frankly, terrifying to me. When the blank calendar stared back at me as engagements and trips were canceled at the beginning of the pandemic, I didn’t see freedom I saw an abyss.
The first thing I did was take a course in Virtual Facilitation with Jennifer Britton who has a great new Ted talk about virtual work.
And I learned that what I already know about how to engage and connect with audiences would still serve me in a virtual setting.
As the days went by I found that while my travel abated, my work with clients, teams and individuals continued apace. I found great satisfaction in coaching them through their new virtual world.
I felt better that I was definitely doing something for others.
Still I kept looking at that book cover thinking I really should learn how to do nothing. Which if you think about it is ironic because by learning how to do nothing you have to do something - read. And anyway I told myself I didn’t have the time to read the book because I was too busy cooking, caring for my family and working to take the time to learn how to do nothing.
And I’m not alone apparently in finding that the pandemic didn’t end up with finding more time, instead, many have been working harder than ever since the pandemic forced everyone to work from home.
And all that productivity doesn’t always mean great results. It can mean burnout, reduced engagement, and is leading to what Professor Anthony Klotz from Texas A&M calls, the “Great Resignation.”
So to counteract the urge to always be driving towards productivity and to re-energize myself when I need to, here’s what I intend to DO about DOING NOTHING.
Well first, I’m going to READ THE DO NOTHING BOOK.
Block out nothing time each day – aka, no meetings.
Re-calibrate my beliefs about what “nothing’” means. – aka, reading for pleasure, laughing with a friend, listening to music – all these “nothings” feed my soul and avoid the productivity rut.
I always say that my parents taught me all about having a great work ethic. My Dad was an Ob/Gyn who would have the phone ringing all night long when his patients went into labor. He’d come home from office hours and sit and make hours of phone calls to patients who had questions. My mom worked until she was 86 as a therapist - seeing patients until the day she moved into senior living. Their drive shaped who I am at work.
I have to remind myself they also taught me how to take the time to enjoy culture, travel, great food, and each other. Today we would say that’s the equivalent of “doing nothing.” But to me, that is the something that we all are working for – and that’s not nothing it’s EVERYTHING.
Outlaw Leaders take the time to re-energize, revive and re-calibrate.
Do Nothing Summer 2021