What to do when you've nothing to do
Updated: Sep 11, 2023
Written by Anam Tariq, one of our opinion writers, and edited by Greg, one of our editors!
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There are times in life when you feel lost, when you are not able to decide what
to do, or when you are in the process of figuring out what to do in the next
phase of your life. So, what do you do in such a situation?
Life made me walk up to such a block once but I’ve since learned to circumvent
it. The story goes like this – right after completing my studies I was faced with
a sudden roller-coaster ride of my twenties (those who are approaching their
mid-twenties, beware!). In my opinion, it is the most twisted climb of your life
so far.
After completing education, a new phase is supposed to commence in the life
of every person. You either get into a job or settle down, have a family or both.
The dilemma clouding me was that though I wanted to secure either an
admission to a PhD program or a job, I ended up being triumphant in neither.
What I wanted to do, I couldn’t do. Now what was I supposed to do?
But I guess it is sometimes okay to be lost. Only by being lost can you find
yourself anew. It is a learning curve. It is the chance to contemplate upon your
life, your actions, and plan what to do ahead. I learned many things during my
hiatus after post-graduation. While I was figuring out what to do with my life, I
held on to some activities/hobbies/habits that succoured and cheered me up in
this vacant time. Hence, arriving at our topic, ‘what to do when you’ve nothing
to do.’
Thus, I’ve managed to bring together a list of things/activities which you can
try out while you wait and figure things out in life, while you discover your
calling, or find yourself:
1. Reading
Reading is one of the knowledge enhancing experiences. I try to read whenever
I get the time. And it is the easiest thing to do in my opinion. Check out the
essay, “Reading: A Puissant Art”, on the benefits of reading.
2. Writing
I find my refuge in writing where I can fully express my gloom, my
apprehensions, my elation. Writing is a beneficial way of channelling inner
thoughts. At a time when you feel lost, writing could serve as a medium of
outlet for the feelings that are brimming inside. Free, digital publishing
made writing and sharing easier. Writing could be of various kinds – personal
essays, poetry, articles, haiku, reviews, advice columns, pieces based on
health, fashion, beauty, food, travel, tech, literature, current events, etc.
3. Finding a hobby
If writing doesn’t work, other hobbies could be as well explored. It is a really
healthy distraction for the mind. For instance, I sometimes like to play
badminton or table tennis. Others include – embroidery, knitting, crocheting,
calligraphy, starting a small online business, teaching, cooking, etc. Maybe a
hobby could turn into a full-time job!
4. Journaling
Journaling is a good pastime. A journal could be about a specific thing, like
plants or art, or it could be about daily life. There are interesting journaling
items on the internet, from stickers to stamps to washi tapes. People often
makes collages for their journals. I find it particularly fascinating.
5. Gardening
Gardening is another activity to try. If you have a house and enough space to
plant a few seeds here and there, then give it a shot. And if the sown plants bear
fruits, then it’s even more rewarding (from personal experience).
6. Tidying home and helping with chores
It is the simplest thing to employ yourself in. It works as a good exercise for the
body and I guess no one dislikes a spick and span house. Also, spending time
exploring some interior decor ideas would be fun.
7. Spending time outdoors/in nature
Spending time outside or in nature is refreshing. It has helped me a lot. It helps
take my mind away from things that are perturbing me at the moment. I have
shared my experience in “The Road of Peace”. Kayti Christian shares a similar
experience on her Substack, “Internal chatter hardly existed, and my usual
overwhelming emotions subsided. High in the alpines, where my fingers
scraped the sky, my heart found the rhythm it had been searching for all along.
… Life requires so much of us—chores, work, caretaking, finances—it can
make it hard to breathe, let alone recognize ourselves. And so asking these
questions matter. Questions like, Where do you find “you”?”
8. Learning new things
When it comes to learning, it can be learning pretty much anything. But what I
am hinting at is doing some useful, short courses online/offline which could be
beneficial to your line of work. For instance, I am learning Arabic free of cost
on Duolingo these days. Platforms like Udemy and Coursera offer online
courses too. Doing such courses and learning new languages assure you that at
least you are gaining something and using your time wisely.
I hope you find something in this list which can cheer you up when you are
feeling listless. Quoting a line from Only Murders in the Building:
“You can afford to take your time, Mabel. What you can’t afford to do is waste
it.”
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This piece was written by one of our opinion writers, Anam. Reach her at @anam.tariq_ on Instagram!
This piece was edited by one of our editors, Greg! Reach him at @Gtomaini on Instagram and Twitter!
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