Why Doing Nothing May Be the Best Thing You Ever Did for Your Business

Ever notice the more you do, the less you get done?

Sounds antithetical to what you want right? Actually read it again, it almost doesn’t make any sense. How can the more things you do, the less you actually get done?

There are a few reasons…

1 +1 = 0?

One thing is that doing more doesn’t automatically equal being more productive. You could be doing more marketing, but that makes you have less time for writing, for example. Or you could be spending loads of time solely on writing and then realize you haven’t had any new business in awhile because you ran out of time to do marketing.

The Never-Ending Shopping List

Secondly, the more things you have on your to-do list, the more things you won’t be able to finish. That darn to-do list always grows, which means no matter how much you cross off (boy doesn’t that feel good?), there will always be more to add on tomorrow.

Working Until Your Bone Dry

Thirdly, you might be driving your ideas and inspiration away. There’s a reason for the proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Although I work argue it makes Jill a dull girl too.

But it doesn’t just make you bored and boring, but keep yourself too busy and your mind won’t have the time or energy to come up with new ideas.

To remedy the situation, make sure to keep your well full. Schedule in at least an hour a week, if not, more to simply sit still and do nothing. (Watching TV doesn’t count.) And do as my holistic doctor once said, “Be a kid again and play hooky.”

How Doing Nothing Has Helped Me

I did almost nothing this past weekend. I kind of cheated because I was ill, but still…Anyway, as I sat staring in space I came up with gazillion new ideas. Ideas for blog topics, ideas for future essays, ideas on how to change up my business. I kept a journal nearby and couldn’t jot them down fast enough. First time that happened in awhile.

But if you won’t take my word for it, how about Cheryl Richardson? In Take Time for Your Life she says, “When you slow down, take time for your life, and practice extreme self-care, success always follows.”