International Do Nothing Day - January 16th 2025

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Let's do nothing today

January 16th - International 'Do Nothing' Day. This day is to celebrate doing nothing ..... yes to do well....nothing!!! So put the date in your diary and do just that. Clearly, this is not always possible as we do have to work, pay the bills, do the food shop and the rest of it. This celebration day started back in 1973 by Harold Pullman Coffin, a newspaper columnist with the intention to provide everyone with a day where they can sit without celebrating, observing or honouring anything.

However, perhaps we should think about a day where we can literally do nothing, or do something that feels like nothing. When we do get some spare time, we always feel we need to fill it with something productive or catch up on what we should have done yesterday or last week. In this fast paced world we always feel that we need to keep busy. So why not spend a day doing nothing related to busyness.

Try some mindful activities. Mindfulness involves paying attention to what is happening now. Take a walk in nature, or by the sea and open up your senses. Notice all the sounds, the feeling of fresh air, the way your feet move on the pebbles or through the fallen leaves. Mindfulness makes you intensely aware of what you are sensing and feeling in the moment. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present in each moment as it passes, without analysis or judgement. It feels like doing nothing but it teaches you appreciation and gratitude. Be Mindful 



Relax and breathe - Simply breathing can bring a whole array of health benefits. Slowing down the breath calms the central nervous system and brings peace to the mind and body. Use your spare time wisely by practising deep mindful breathing. Let your breath flow deep down into your belly and try to breathe in and out through the nostrils. Notice the rise and fall of the belly with each inhalation and exhalation. In times of stress and worry the breath gives us something to focus on and can even lower our heart rate and blood pressure. There are many benefits in the practice of deep breathing techniques.


Meditation is self-care. Meditation can give you a sense of peace, calm and balance in your life. This will bring emotional well-being and overall health benefits. Meditation can help you to stay calm in stressful times and helps to bring focus and inner peace to your life. Meditation can also positively impact your mood and immune system. Meditation teaches you how to respond rather than react to negative situations. Better focus through regular meditation may increase memory and mental clarity allowing you to stay focused longer.




If you find that day when you want to do nothing or what feels like 'nothing' then take all of the above, put them together and treat yourself by creating your own home retreat. I love to do this for myself. It feels like a day of luxury. You choose the activities you wish to do (anything from spa treatments to a yoga session or reading a good book). Set yourself a time schedule to shower, eat and to do your activities. Prepare your food and all the things you need the day before your retreat so you can fully enjoy the day. In the article I have a free PDF script as a guide for you to use.


There are days when it is good to do nothing. Do not see these days as being lazy or unproductive, but as days of restorative activities and self-care. You can actually learn a lot from doing nothing.

"Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing"
A.A.Milne


©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation

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