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Thoughts…Do Nothing Day

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Home Stager

Thoughts…Do Nothing Day

 

Have you ever wished you had a weekend or day…or even an hour when you could do nothing?  For those of you who are still working, you know that is almost impossible. 

Your latest listing or closing, or where your next client will come from are always at the top of your minds. 

 

There is a day for this called DO NOTHING DAY. When I saw this it made me wonder…how do you Do nothing! We live in a time and society when being busy…juggling 10 things at once is like a badge of honor. 

 

Years ago I watched and listened to two mothers play the “I’m busier with my children’s activities than you are” game. Shortly after that, I read an article about a mother who put her foot down to the structured summer classes and camps her children had attended every year.

 

She told them they would be busy though, with trips to the zoo, museums, and park activities. Her children were excited to have a “free” summer.  

Other children have been happy when they realized they had a free summer.

 

Whether you’re working full time, retired, or are busy parenting, there’s some benefits to giving yourself and others the gift of time doing nothing. 

 

Doing nothing doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It’s allowing your mind to relax…to enjoy your surroundings…to allow ideas to seep in.

Doing nothing may mean doing something mindless…almost automatic…so that your thoughts can wander wherever they choose. 

 

The classic example of this is Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of the Theory of Gravity. It is said he came upon this while walking in an apple orchard and seeing an apple fall to the ground. 

 

So…how do you Do nothing?

 

By the way, I get many of my blogging ideas while on my morning walks. 

 

 

Doing nothing is hard, you never know when you’re done.
Attributed to Leslie Nielsen

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(22)

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Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy,

It may be hard to "do nothing for a whole day" but I look at it as "me "time. I get to do what I want and when I want to do it..it's important to take that time for myself!

Jan 16, 2025 05:08 AM
Kathy Streib

Dorie Dillard Austin TX I too need my "me" time. When we have house guests or travel, I have to know that there will be at least an hour of time for myself. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:44 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I am very bad at doing nothing, and I've decided that's fine for me.

And I think taking a walk, reading a book, etc - that's not doing nothing!

Jan 16, 2025 05:29 AM
Kathy Streib

Kat Palmiotti I agree. Taking a walk, working on your spoons...that not "nothing."  

Jan 16, 2025 12:51 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Kathy. Had very few, if any, do nothing days during my working career. Since retirement, it seems as if many days accomplished nothing even if if I was doing something. Does that count? Enjoy your day.

Jan 16, 2025 05:41 AM
Kathy Streib

Wayne Martin when you were doing something were you happy??? That's a key. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:52 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

I remember as a kid having nothing to do, and wishing a portion of my life away. Sad.

Jan 16, 2025 06:16 AM
Kathy Streib

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty in a way you were doing nothing that led to something. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:56 PM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

My do nothing day is Sunday. Work wise all I will do is necessary file management (and most of that can wait until Monday). The only caveat is an active negotiation. 

Jan 16, 2025 06:40 AM
Kathy Streib

Doug Rogers I think FL is a great place to have time to do nothing and love it. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:56 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

I have a Life is Good T-shirt with the saying on it, Doing Nothing is sometimes the right thing to do, with a picture of Jake sitting on the couch with his dog.

Jan 16, 2025 08:33 AM
Kathy Streib

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 that's perfect!!!!  Those are some of our favorite shirts. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:57 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

We are enjoying our "doing nothing" life of retirement! Highly recommend it. LOL

Jan 16, 2025 08:35 AM
Kathy Streib

Sharon Tara camping soon?????  We are due for a phone conversation. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:58 PM
Sharon Tara

Kathy Streib  No camping planned until late May.

Jan 21, 2025 01:37 PM
Aura Alex
Seattle, WA
Retired Real Estate Pro

Hi Kathy,

Escape worries and find peace with meditation as my ultimate "me" time to clear my mind.

Jan 16, 2025 09:20 AM
Kathy Streib

Aura Alex I believe that is the ultimate "do nothing" or ME time. I continue to work on meditation. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:59 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Kathy, I have a big list to do till 3 and then I am networking for a couple of hour.  So miss the notice of do nothing day.

  

Jan 16, 2025 09:56 AM
Kathy Streib

Will Hamm I'll bet you have this evening when you're cooking!

Jan 16, 2025 12:59 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Kathy, I should of known about this before today to plan to do nothing.  I have a long list to get done today.

 

Jan 16, 2025 09:57 AM
Kathy Streib

Will Hamm there's always tomorrow. 

Jan 16, 2025 01:00 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I need to allocate more time for doing nothing. Maybe I will sit for a while watching the flames in our fireplace on this cold day.

Jan 16, 2025 10:37 AM
Kathy Streib

Roy Kelley that sounds perfect to me!!! Enjoy it. 

Jan 16, 2025 01:01 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

My kind of day Kathy!  Throughout the years I learned that letting 'it' all go and relaxing, whether it be walking, hiking or whatever is the best way to invigorate ones imagination.Plus it brings about of sense of peace and contentment. And I'm all for that each and every day! 

Jan 16, 2025 01:07 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking piece, Kathy Streib! It’s a refreshing reminder to slow down and embrace the moments of stillness that can spark our creativity and clarity.

Jan 16, 2025 01:11 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
The best agent in Southern Utah!

Sleeping is my do nothing activity, Kathy. I have been thinking of the next post, my design for the quarterly mailer and looking up comparable properties for a potential listing. And then, whether to make potato soup for dinner or pull something out of the freezer...decisions!

Jan 16, 2025 01:47 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy I would have nooooooooooo problem having a day with doing nothing.   ☺️

Jan 16, 2025 03:12 PM
Joe Mojica
Laer Realty Partners Bowen - Port St Lucie, FL
Your Home Adds Value to You

Kathy - Once in a while, I take do nothing time, but it only lasts a couple of hours.  My body is doing nothing (relaxing, napping, reading, playing the piano), but my brain is going at 200 miles an hour.  I need to learn how to have a 'brain do nothing time."  Joe

Jan 16, 2025 06:39 PM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

I know for a fact that you did something today!! Around 2:08 Central time!!

Jan 16, 2025 08:57 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathy Streib  loved your post and oh boy I do not remember do nothing days for well over 30 years.... now with that said, I do get an hour here and there between cooking, real estate,  having three pets and having Diane as my boss:)Endre

Jan 16, 2025 09:51 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

To stay healthy, we need time in each day to just relax and do nothing, haha.

Jan 17, 2025 04:07 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Kathy:

I enjoy having some Do Nothing time now and then - don time is a good thing. But I suppose it's never TRULY doing nothing since the brain tends to be active and I am thinking about all sorts of things. But that's OK.

Enjoy your weekend!

Jeff

Jan 17, 2025 05:34 PM