There’s too much stress, too many negative thoughts in our lives. We’d like to stop and take a breather, lower our stress levels, but how do we go about it? Where do we start? Here are my 6 powerful tips to learning the art of doing nothing in order to rediscover happiness and serenity in life.

1 – Stop planning and organizing to do nothing

Have you ever noticed that you’re always thinking about what you’ve got to do, always saying to yourself: “Here, I’ve got to do this, and tomorrow I’ll do that and the day after that again.” In your head, you’re always planning and organizing.

In a way, it’s reassuring, putting things to do on an imaginary schedule, but on closer inspection, is it really reassuring? Does it really bring you more serenity in life? The answer is no.

So how do you stop planning and organizing all the time? In other words, how can you learn to do nothing and breathe?

First, start by letting go of all the thoughts that drive you to constantly organize. You don’t need to organize and plan everything. You know what you have to do, so why think about it all the time and put yourself under pressure?

Personally, I’ve found that repeating the words “I’ve got time!” to myself like a mantra helps me enormously to stop needing to organize everything all the time.

In fact, I’ve learned to take my life one step at a time and focus on what I’m doing and what I’ve just done. Nothing more, nothing less. And it feels really good! So, what are you waiting for?

2 – Stop imagining and fantasizing

We can’t manage to do nothing, to put ourselves on pause, because our thoughts are always running.

In fact, we can’t seem to stop thinking, and in particular imagining the worst catastrophes and making anxious films about the future.

That’s why we flail about, hoping to “control” the future. But all we do is exhaust ourselves. And we don’t realize that the reason we’re so overwhelmed by life’s ups and downs is precisely because we’re exhausted.

Indeed, if we took better care of our energy, then we’d be stronger in the face of the unexpected and other bad news. What do you think?

So dare to stop imagining the worst for tomorrow, dare to take deep, calm breaths and say to yourself: “I’m confident. Whatever happens, I’ll get through it. I’ll find solutions.”

Then savor the peace and sweetness of the present moment. Get some rest. What do you think?

3 – Free yourself from your inner judge to do nothing

I’ve noticed that the reason we get so agitated and can’t manage to do nothing is also because we criticize ourselves so harshly. Constantly!

In fact, we can’t allow ourselves to be inactive, to rest. In fact, we force ourselves to be productive and efficient all the time. What if we let ourselves breathe a little?

So doing nothing doesn’t mean procrastinating. Because, often, procrastination is a kind of mindlessness: we can’t see clearly, it’s as if we’re in a daze.

In the art of doing nothing, however, we emerge with a clearer mind and a well-rested body.

So don’t confuse procrastination with the art of doing nothing. That way, you’ll be able to free yourself from your inner judge, who really hates it when you procrastinate. What do you think?

4 – Free yourself from the fear of others’ judgment

When it’s not our own thoughts that judge us, it’s those of others.

We tend to imagine that others will look down on us, and this prevents us from enjoying the benefits of doing nothing.

We get restless, we go in all directions so we can have a clear conscience on Monday morning at the coffee machine. Yes, we’ll be able to say: “Oh, I haven’t stopped all weekend! Why don’t we stop?

Because you don’t have to run around to be recognized by others.

In fact, you don’t have to be recognized by others. You don’t need that in your life.

So, if you feel like taking a breather to live a sweeter, more beautiful life, allow yourself to do nothing. Stop thinking about what other people will say. It’s not important. What do you think?

5 – Allow yourself to be unavailable and do nothing

If we find it so difficult to do nothing, it’s because we make ourselves available to everyone. Why do we do this? Because we’ve learned to be that way, to be available, kind, considerate, attentive.

In fact, we’ve been taught to put other people’s needs before our own. And if today we feel so bad about our lives, and so tired above all, it’s because of this.

So, if you want this to change, start by stopping making yourself available to others.

Just because it’s your day off doesn’t mean you have to help so-and-so do this or that.

So, before offering yourself, ask yourself what you want to do for yourself. Put your needs a little more often before those of others. And if you feel the need to do nothing that day, don’t! What do you think?

6 – Allowing yourself not to get ahead, not to be productive and efficient

I’ve noticed that we never stop, so we’re constantly stressed, because we’re in a logic of constant progress. We have to keep moving forward in our lives, doing more and more, going further and further, learning more and more.

In fact, we find it hard to accept that sometimes we just need to do nothing, to stay where we are and feel good, just present, and even grateful for what is, who we are and what we have.

Because that’s what life is all about. It’s not always a race to the front, it’s also the present moment. What do you think?

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Accepting life as it is: 4 steps to greater serenity
Discover How to live in the present moment? 4 powerful exercises

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

This charming book uses A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh characters to explore the principles of Taoism, emphasizing the value of simplicity, mindfulness and the art of doing nothing as a means of finding peace and contentment. Through the whimsical adventures of Winnie and her friends, Hoff imparts timeless wisdom about adopting a more relaxed and satisfying way of life.

The author is content to accept things as they are and stroll happily through life, while everyone around him reacts in unproductive ways. In the end, it is he who finds the greatest joy and value in existence by abandoning his expectations.

Whenever I’m feeling a little blue, this is the perfect book to pick up and read a page or two.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself