Why Doing Nothing Is the Hardest Thing To Do

I have been doing 20-30 minutes of yoga almost every morning for over a year now. (I think I have finally made it a habit. Wahoo! But the point is…) At the end of most sessions, we end in Savasana, or Corpse Pose, in which you lay on your back, flat on the floor and rest, being present to and releasing physical, mental, and emotional tension.

This seems easy enough. Lay there. Do nothing.

But it’s not always easy.

Doing “nothing” can be the hardest thing to do.

Doing “nothing” requires stillness, quietness, and presence, and for most of us in this modernized world, that is not something we typically practice.

Usually our “doing nothing” involves sitting on the couch watching tv, the news, Netflix or whatever streaming service you choose, or scrolling on your phone - which none are actually doing nothing - these are mindless tasks to stay busy.

Now, it’s possible you are having some ‘but’ thoughts (with one ’t’) about this like, “But doing nothing is lazy”, “But I don’t have enough time to do nothing”, “But I need to be useful”.

When we don’t give our self some time to do nothing, it exhausts our nervous system, halts creativity, and lessens productivity.

We have trained our nervous system to always go, “be on”, do something. We operate under the false assumption that “doing”, pushing, forcing is best for us. But it is not correct. Constantly operating this way is not healthy.

But it does feel normal, comfortable, and familiar. Anytime we do something that is not normal, comfortable and familiar - such as be still - it might feel foreign and wrong, scary even.

Being still and quiet can be really uncomfortable. It can make you feel anxious, and get you in touch with feelings that you don’t want to feel, such as grief, loneliness, and “not enough”. This is often why we stay busy - to avoid these uncomfortable feelings, even though we might not realize that’s what we are doing.

Coincidently, as I am writing this article, I received an email on this very topic from my mentor, Carol Look. She calls this stillness “white space” - time when you’re not multitasking, fussing, or worrying.

Why would you want more stillness or “white space” in your life?

It allows you to calm your nervous system, access your creativity and intuition, find solutions to your challenges, connect to your deeper truths, align with your purpose, hear your callings.

Many good reasons to add more of it in your life.

So, why don’t you add more stillness or “white space” into your life?

Because of your emotional blocks - your “yes, buts”. When you can reduce these emotional blocks, it is easier to add more stillness/white space into your life and get the benefits of doing so.

In her email, Carol Look shared a tapping script to reduce these emotional blocks. I am sharing it with you here. (If you have never tried tapping before, check out my video about what it is and how to do it.)

First, measure how uncomfortable you feel about this suggestion to increase your white space during your day on the 0-10 point scale.

Start Tapping:

Side of Hand: Even though I’ve been avoiding creating more white space for myself, I deeply and completely love and accept myself anyway. Even though I’m afraid of too much white space, I accept who I am and how I feel about it.

Eyebrow: I never give myself enough quiet time.
Side of Eye: I avoid creating white space for myself.
Under Eye: Maybe I’m afraid of it.
Under Nose: I feel the need to be useful and productive.
Chin: I don’t want strong feelings to surface.
Collarbone: I’m afraid of stillness.
Under Arm: I don’t want to be too quiet.
Head: It makes me think I’m not being productive enough.

Take a deep breath, and measure your discomfort about creating more white space again on the 0-10 point scale.

Continue Tapping:

Side of Hand: Even though I’m still afraid of being quiet and still, I accept who I am and why I’m afraid. Even though I’m worried that deep emotions might surface, I accept who I am and how I feel anyway.

Eyebrow: I’m still afraid of what might surface.
Side of Eye: It’s easier for me to be busy.
Under Eye: I feel anxious about being still.
Under Nose: I want to make sure I’m productive.
Chin: I get anxious with quiet time.
Collarbone: I’m afraid I will feel more anxious.
Under Arm: I’m still worried about creating more of it.
Head: I want to want more white space in my day.

Take another deep breath, and now move to some Gratitude Tapping.

Eyebrow: I appreciate the white space I already allow in my life.
Side of Eye: Thank you, Universe, for more peace and quiet.
Under Eye: I appreciate what happens when I’m still.
Under Nose: I love being still and quiet.
Chin: I’m grateful for so much quiet time.
Collarbone: I deserve more quiet time.
Under Arm: I am grateful for what it offers me.
Head: My nervous system appreciates the white space.

Take a final deep breath.

If stillness feels nourishing and unsettling, that’s often a sign there’s something worth exploring beneath the surface.

If you’d like help working through the emotional blocks that make rest, quiet, or white space feel unsafe, I invite you to book a free 30-minute discovery call. We’ll talk about what’s showing up for you and whether EFT could support your nervous system in finding more ease.

Here’s to conquering stress.

With heart,

Louise

The Stress Experts

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