The most popular class at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin this fall is a one credit course on “Doing Nothing.”  The course has gained national attention for its high enrollment which surprised even its creator, Professor Constance Kassor, who didn’t anticipate it would be such a hit. However, given what we know about the mental health issues facing our youth, this should not come as a surprise. Between the pressure of school work and constantly being connected to technology and social media  - it is no surprise that students are looking for a reprieve.  Our society is notorious for equating busy with success and importance. We work longer hours and more days than any other developed nation.  It seems to be a badge of honor to be overworked and overscheduled. Yet, have you ever visited a dying person whose only regret was not spending more time at the office?

Adults run from one meeting to the next, work late into the night, and constantly look at their phones for the latest message or tweet. Children go to school all day, have to attend to homework and run from one scheduled activity to the next. If you are not being productive all the time, “there is something wrong with you,” is what seems to be the overwhelming message in our society.  People are feeling overworked, stressed, burdened, and looking for an off-ramp.  Clearly many college students feel this way and the popularity of this course seems to validate this.

It’s time to rethink our misplaced value that being haggard and busy is a sign of importance and success and focus more on the value and benefits of doing nothing and “wasting time.”  Dan Rockwell, a leadership coach and author of the most shared leadership blog on the internet, “Leadership Freak,” goes as far as to state that, “A sage knows that wasting time is a virtue, not a sin.”

It is necessary to make space for ourselves for inspiration, creativity, and recreation.  It turns out that people who make time to do nothing or activities for themselves, end up more productive. Our brains need to slow down and have time for playfulness and real social connectedness. Our mental health needs it, too. Geir Berthelsen, founder of the World Institute of Slowness, a global think tank based in Norway that’s dedicated to slowing the world down “to create healthier, happier, and more productive people,” believes that the fastest way to improve your life is to slow down.

Professor Constance Kassor from Lawrence University was on to something when she created this course on doing nothing. The course’s curriculum includes lessons on topics such as the latest sleep research, mindful walking, and Tai Chi.  Students and adults alike need permission to do nothing, to “waste” time, and to be playful.  In the end, we would create a happier society, and as counterintuitive as it may seem, a society with people who were more productive as well.

Jews, who choose, have the gift of Shabbat to slow down and to spiritually and emotionally renew ourselves on a weekly basis. Our rabbis generally see the value of moderation in most things, so it would make sense to balance work with slowing down. The rabbis understood that there are necessary times when less is more. For instance, after the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites had seven weeks until they received the Torah. They journeyed to Sinai and had much to do in preparation.  When the seventh week arrived, on the first day, which was the first of Sivan, the Rabbis in the Talmud deduced from their understanding of Exodus 19 that the Israelites did nothing.  The Rabbis understood this to mean that even in the midst of all of our work and efforts, there is a time in the process to stop and do nothing - to take that moment to surrender ourselves in order to fill ourselves with renewed energy and spirit to ultimately reach our goals. In other words, slowing down to get there faster!

With winter break just a week away, I hope everyone has a chance to practice doing nothing, “wasting” time, being together for the value of being with each other, and being playful. Whether you are staying home or traveling - slow down, enjoy the moments, read a book, see a movie, play games, walk, exercise, meditate - whatever fuels your mind and spirit.  We all need it, our children included.  Let’s focus on slowing down to enjoy life more while also getting more accomplished in the long run by finding that sweet balance.