The art of doing nothing

As a backpacker, there seems to be an unspoken pressure to do, see and explore. To make the most of every second because you might never be in this place ever again.

So you pack your days with activities. Temples, hikes, museums, markets. Sunrise missions and late-night food hunts. In the beginning it’s exhilarating. Eventually, a feeling creeps in. One where your body and mind scream for a break. So you decide it’s time to do nothing.

You wake up on your carefully planned day of nothing, excited to embrace stillness. But instead of peace, something else washes over you. Guilt.

Shouldn’t you be out there making the most of this place? Ticking something off the list? What if this is the only time in your life you’ll be here? What if you’re wasting the opportunity?

So, naturally, you go for a walk. Just a small one to ease the guilt. Then, you find yourself standing in front of a monument. Or in an art gallery. Or staring at yet another Buddha, pondering life. And just like that, your day of nothing has turned into another day of doing.

And then you wonder. Why do I still feel burnt out? Why don’t I feel refreshed? The cycle continues, fueled by the ever-present guilt of doing nothing.

Why doing nothing is so damn hard

This thought has been in my mind for a while now, and I know I’m not alone. Every backpacker I’ve met seems to have struggled with this at some point. There’s an ingrained belief that time off should be productive, and even rest should have a purpose.

But sometimes, doing nothing is exactly what we need to keep traveling from feeling like work. The whole point of seeing the world isn’t just to tick off landmarks, it’s to experience existing in a new place. And if you’re rushing from one thing to the next, exhausted and mentally checked out, are you really experiencing anything at all?

There’s a balance to strike.

Side note: recently I learnt the Dutch have a word for the act of deliberately doing nothing: niksen. It means letting your mind and body simply exist, without purpose or productivity.

As you’ve probably guessed, I’m currently practicing the art of doing northing. I’ve parked myself in Da Nang, and planned a whole week of doing absolutely nothing. No plans. No sightseeing. Just existing. And after two months of non-stop movement, I needed this.

It’s been too long since I allowed myself to just be. Without the guilt, and without the need to justify it.

In fact, I’ve been so busy not doing nothing that it’s taken me over a month to write something worth posting. It turns out all I needed was some actual free time. Who knew?

Permission to do nothing

So here’s your reminder. You don’t have to fill every inch of your time with activities. Slow down. Observe your surroundings. Let yourself breathe.

The guilt might not disappear overnight, but you might never get this time again. Time to sit, rest, and soak in the moment without an agenda. Enjoy it.

After this week, I’m hoping to feel refreshed, and excited for what’s next.