Ah, smartphones. Our pocket-sized portals to an endless world of information, memes, and distractions. They beep, buzz, and vibrate, demanding our attention at all hours of the day (and night, if you’re brave enough to keep your notifications on). But here’s the kicker: while these clever gadgets were designed to make life easier, they’ve sneakily turned us into perpetual doers. We scroll, tap, reply, and swipe ourselves into oblivion, all while complaining about how tired we are.
Take a moment and think: when was the last time you truly did nothing? Not scrolling TikTok, not binge-watching Netflix, not even doodling aimlessly in a notebook. Just... sat there. No agenda, no distractions. Feels almost scandalous, doesn’t it? And therein lies the problem. We’ve lost the capacity to do nothing, and frankly, it’s ruining us.
The Always-On Culture
Over the past five or six years, I’ve realised that this “always-on” mindset is a straight shot to burnout city. And yet, I keep falling into the trap. Two weeks ago, I was the very definition of burnt out: exhausted, lethargic, unable to muster enthusiasm for even my favourite snacks. (Yes, I’m a foodie, so that’s saying something.) All I wanted to do was sleep—preferably for a week, with Samosa snuggled by my side.
The culprit? You guessed it: work. I’d put in ridiculous hours, powered by sheer will and way too many cups of tea. My body waved the white flag, but my brain was too frazzled to notice. Stressed? Absolutely. But here’s the kicker: I didn’t feel stressed in the usual sense. My body told me otherwise, though, in no uncertain terms. It was as if it were shouting, “Oi, stop ignoring me! We’re not a machine!”
A Quick Recharge
In a previous blog, I shared how a visit to my soul sister worked wonders. She’s one of those rare people who just gets me. A few hours of laughter, deep chats, and unapologetic comfort later, I felt like myself again. My creative juices were flowing, my appetite returned, and I wasn’t plotting to disappear into my duvet for eternity. 
That experience was a reminder of the magic of connection—the real, face-to-face kind. Not the kind you get from sending a “Lol” in a WhatsApp group chat. But here’s the thing: while recharging with loved ones is fantastic, it’s not a cure-all. At some point, you have to confront the underlying issue. And for me, it was my inability to simply stop. Plus, I’m moving countries at the end of January/beginning of February and while I’m packing (not nearly fast enough) with only three and half weeks to go, the panic hasn’t quite set in. But trust me, it’s looming. YIKES!!!
The Fear of Doing Nothing
Why is it so hard to rest? To sit with ourselves without a screen, a task, or a to-do list looming over our heads? Part of it is cultural, I think. We live in a world that glorifies hustle, productivity, and squeezing every last drop out of every single day. (Thanks a lot, capitalism.) Rest is seen as lazy. Doing nothing? Practically criminal.
And then there’s FOMO—fear of missing out. Social media has tricked us into believing that everyone else is living their best life 24/7, and we’d better keep up. If we’re not learning a new skill, exploring a new hobby, or achieving some ridiculous milestone, we’re obviously failing.
But here’s the truth: doing nothing is essential. Your brain needs it. Your body needs it. Your soul definitely needs it. Think of rest as charging your internal battery. You wouldn’t run your phone down to 1% every single day without plugging it in, so why do we do that to ourselves? I have mentioned this before many times and its not until I add the comparison of a dead phone battery, that the light bulb goes off!
Learning to Stop
Over the years, I’ve experimented with ways to embrace rest without feeling like a guilty sloth. It’s not always easy, but here are a few things that have worked for me:
Scheduled Downtime
Yes, I’ve literally had to put “do nothing” on my calendar. If it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t happen. That’s the level we’re at, folks.
Tech-Free Zones
I’ve banned phones from certain parts of my day—like morning tea or my evening dog walks with Samosa. It’s amazing how much clearer your head feels when you’re not being bombarded with notifications.
Mindfulness Practices
Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean sitting cross-legged in a candlelit room. Sometimes, it’s as simple as focusing on your breathing for a minute or two. It’s grounding, and it works wonders.
Unstructured Time
I’ve started giving myself permission to spend time without a plan. No goals, no agenda, no “shoulds”. Just time to exist and see where it takes me.
Reassessing Priorities
This one’s tough but necessary. I’ve had to accept that I can’t do everything—and that’s okay. It’s better to do a few things well than to burn yourself out trying to do it all.
The Irony of Smartphones
Of course, there’s a bit of irony in the fact that smartphones, which contribute so much to our overstimulation, can also be part of the solution. There are apps for meditation, reminders to take breaks, and even ones that lock you out of other apps when you’ve hit your daily limit. Technology is neither good nor bad—it’s how we use it that matters.
But let’s be honest: the best way to truly disconnect is to literally switch it off. It’s terrifying, I know. The first time I turned my phone off for a full day, I felt like there was a limb missing and the phone is an extension of my hand. But once I got past the initial panic, it was liberating. No buzzing, no beeping, no distractions. Just peace. I find this easier to do when I at home in London visiting family and friends. We’re so busy talking, laughing and having an amazing time, we don’t look at our phones unless it rings.
A Call to (In)Action
If you’re reading this and nodding along, feeling personally attacked by my critique of the hustle culture, take it as a sign. It’s time to give yourself permission to stop. Not forever, not even for a full day if that feels like too much. Start small. Five minutes of nothingness. No phone, no tasks, no guilt. Just you and the moment.
And when your brain starts whispering, “You should be doing something productive,” tell it to pipe down. Rest is productive. It’s what allows us to keep going without completely falling apart. So go on, take a break. Scroll-free, guilt-free, glorious nothingness awaits.
Final Thoughts
As I sit here typing this, I’ve got my phone in “Do Not Disturb” mode and a steaming cup of chai by my side. Samosa is curled up under my desk, keeping my feet warm and blissfully unaware of the modern world’s madness. And you know what? I feel good. Rested. Present.
So here’s to doing nothing, to stepping off the hamster wheel every now and then, and to reclaiming our time from the tech that’s trying to steal it. Let’s remind ourselves that we’re human beings, not human doings.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to enjoy a bit of nothingness myself - hugging Samosa sounds just about perfect right now and if a nap accidentally happens, BONUS!
