The Art of Doing Nothing

and other 2023 things

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: doing nothing absolutely counts as being busy, I do not even care.

As a severe introvert who is forced to never be at home, I cherish the days and times that I am able to just exist in the place I pay rent for. Luxuriating in the feel of my sheets, glaring balefully at the dust on my bookshelves, existing in the stream of air pushing out of the vents—it’s glorious.

I started off the first few days of 2023 with the plan to do nothing. I was reacting to some form of allergy on the first few days, which severely sucked. But after that, I planned to relax and enjoy the pitter-patter of rain. I napped like a damn cat.

I read, a lot.

I watched a show or two.

But in between doing those two things and occasionally typing up a newsletter on here, I spent it browsing Youtube listening to reddit AITA collections and/or watching clips of Story of Yanxi Palace because those concubines are always up to something; sometimes, I would watching some chiropractic videos, which are great and fucking relaxing.

It truly is the best. Because that is what doing nothing entails…loosening yourself from the chains of structure and doing whatever you want at your leisure. Lay in the bed, get up for a croissant, watch a show, stop the show, repeat as you like.

You have nothing to lose but your chains, to loosely misquote Marx.

That being said, I may have indulged my inner introvert a little too much and now it is time for me to dust myself off and rejoin the world or whatever. Work has started and the semester will start soon and the new Fire Emblem title is being released next week, so I have things to consider, things to buy, things to read. Plus, my thesis continues to percolate and I have several books to—ugh.

Maybe I need another break. That partial list stressed me tf out.

Stress accumulates in your body and mind in the oddest ways. Things you never even considered can be from stress. Sometimes, my allergies are triggered much more strongly when I’m stressed. I sometimes get rashes. It’s wild.

Stress is gross.

Anyway, in the name of self-care, I truly urge you to please spend a day doing nothing, for your own mental health. If you have a partner, have them do nothing with you. Have no plan and just do. It’s amazing.