Key Messages
The Power Of Doing Nothing: How Focusing Our Attention Can Lead To A Better World
In her book, How to Do Nothing, writer and artist Jenny Odell encourages us to take a different approach to how we experience life.
Rather than living in an almost robotic state of constantly trying to achieve something measurable or getting swept up in the ever-present noise of social media, Odell advocates for taking a step back and learning how to observe the world around us with intention.
This allows us to see things from a unique perspective, freeing us from the mundane and ordinary mindset that often pervades our lives.
Odell’s practice of attentiveness also has an empowering effect on our lives.
By being mindful of our surroundings, it’s easier for us to be more self-aware and become better stewards of our collective energy.
Doing so can inspire empathy not just towards others but also towards ourselves and enable more meaningful connections throughout the world.
The truth is that stepping away from the hustle of daily life lets us appreciate life’s simple pleasures – and it’s only when we do this that we can open ourselves up to new possibilities heretofore unknown.
The Gig Economy Erases The Boundary Between Work And Leisure
In the eight-hour workday of the America of the 19th century, workers wanted not just time to heal their sore muscles but also a life outside work – to do what they will with one third of their day.
It’s important to note, however, that in today’s ultra-competitive gig economy, this division between work and leisure has become almost nonexistent.
When workers are faced with 24 potentially monetizable hours every single day, doing ‘nothing’ doesn’t seem so appealing anymore.
From Fiverr’s 2017 campaign which suggested that we should be working around the clock – eating coffee for lunch, running on sleep deprivation and even interrupting sex for clients – it’s clear that the boundaries between rest, leisure and work has been blurred by an emphasis on productivity at any cost.
This means that doing nothing is seen as ‘wasting’ precious time in an effort to outcompete others in today’s competitive market – something our 19th century American laborers would never have dreamed of!
Social Media Makes Us Act Like One-Dimensional Brands
With the rise of social media, we have taken on more and more of a corporate mindset when it comes to our behavior online.
We tend to monitor the performance of our personal brands as though they were stocks on Wall Street, numerically measuring success through likes and follows.
This has changed how we present ourselves and interact with each other on the web.
In 1985, technology expert Joshua Meyrowitz wrote about this phenomenon in his book No Sense of Place long before anyone even imagined the full potential of what would become social media.
To demonstrate the effects of electronic media, he referenced his own experience on a three-month long expedition.
He was careful to tell different audiences different stories that were all accurate but tailored to their interests or context.
Unfortunately, today every corner of the internet feels like that surprise party Meyrowitz talked about: Everyone is always in attendance so it’s hard to create multiple versions of yourself without potentially offending someone.
This leads us to minimize awkward acts like admitting mistakes in public or taking unpopular stances since these behaviors can be seen as weaknesses in our “brands.” As a result, most people adopt a persona that’s acceptable at all times – good but not too risqué.
It may seem like much more effort than necessary but really this kind of “mediocre bottom” behavior is unavoidable due to social media’s role as a tool for personal branding rather than fostering real human expression and dialogue.
We Need To Reappraise The Meaning Of Value And Embrace Resistance-In-Place For A More Fulfilling Life
For those of us living in our 24/7 cult of productivity, it can be difficult to recognize that true meaning is often found through accident, chance and serendipitous encounters.
Fortunately, the fourth-century BC Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zhou illustrates this point perfectly in his story “The Useless Tree”.
Through this story he shows how something seemingly useless can actually be very valuable.
This message is echoed in an example from real life with the old survivor, a thousand year old redwood tree that was too twisted and difficult to cut down during the 1850s gold rush.
In order to live more meaningful lives then, we need to appraise what is valuable based on different criteria than just productivity.
We can do this by studying stories like “The Useless Tree,” investigating examples such as Old Survivor and embracing resistance-in-place – making yourself into a shape that resists being appropriated by the dominant system.
By shifting our perspective on what’s truly meaningful we can step out of the cult of productivity and start finding true happiness and contentment!
Appreciating The Value Of Doing Nothing: The Power Of Attention-Holding Architecture And Deep Listening
If you’re looking for a way to get deeper in tune with your environment, Scott Polach’s Applause Encouraged art work is a great example of how doing nothing can allow you to truly pay attention to the world.
More than just encouraging people to somehow be more aware of their surroundings, Polach created an environment that was meant to be appreciated and marveled at – the sunset in this case.
This draws our attention back to nature and helps us gain insight into the beauty it holds.
Other attention-holding architectures, like Pauline Oliveros’ deep listening technique, can help you focus on sounds and psychological significance within them so that you notice every little detail.
Birdwatching is a great example of this; birdwatchers must listen closely and attentively if they are to identify a species by its song or call.
In any case, it’s clear that doing nothing allows us to better appreciate the world around us, from subtle sunset cues to unique bird calls.
It’s only when we find ourselves completely present in the moment that we open up the opportunity for meaningful experiences filled with discovery and joy!
Learn To Unlock Your Attention With Silence To Experience The World With Greater Clarity
The idea that our brains only notice a small portion of the data around us is one that’s been studied extensively in an experiment by Arien Mack and Irvin Rock.
In this experiment, participants were asked to look at a cross on their screens and state which line was longer – but this was just a decoy.
As the participants focused on the cross, different stimuli were displayed on their screens.
When these were within what the subjects saw as circumscribing the cross area, they could be detected.
But if they fell outside this area, they went completely unnoticed!
Perhaps even more interestingly, when the stimuli were made slightly less distinctive, like “Janny” instead of “Jenny,” they once again went undetected.
This suggests that attention is some sort of key to unlocking information processing – essentially, our brains process far more than we consciously realize and it’s only by paying closer attention that we can discover what’s going on behind the scenes.
That’s why taking moments of silence can help widen your perspective – because it gives you time to really get in tune with all those small details your mind is already taking in.
As composer John Cage put it: “Everything we hear is music.” So next time you’re out for a walk, try to take silent moments – and allow yourself to appreciate all the little sounds you usually ignore!
Choosing To Be Attentive To Others Can Enhance Everyday Experiences
When it comes to daily life experiences, it can be all too easy to focus solely on our own point of view.
When we are stuck in traffic or have a particularly long day at work, our first instinct may be to focus on our own needs and desires.
However, the American novelist David Foster Wallace suggested an alternative way of thinking about these everyday situations in his 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon College, Ohio: Choosing to be attentive to others takes the sting out of frustrating everyday experiences.
You can experience this for yourself if you take a moment to think about what might be motivating the people around us whose actions frustrate us.
Even if we don’t know the truth of what is driving those around us, simply imagining other possibilities beyond our own experiences is enough to transform how we view them – they are no longer just barriers to what we want but fellow inhabitants of a shared space with just as much right as ours.
This kind of reflective attitude towards everyday life makes it possible for us to remain calm and composed even when things seem overwhelming and chaotic.
Rather than only seeing them in terms of how they inconvenience us personally, becoming aware of their complexity opens up possibilities for empathy and understanding which ultimately enhances our living experience.
Wrap Up
The concept that we are all capitalists has had a deep and lasting impact on our lives.
This idea has removed the separation between work and leisure, meaning that we can make money from anything – even when not working.
However, this view of life is mistaken; It’s important to find moments of rest and pause throughout our day to really study what’s going on around us.
In doing so, we uncover definitions and stories that enrich our lives beyond material goods or capitalism.
Overall, How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell proves that understanding how to disconnect is essential for truly engaging with the world around us.
Only then can we realize true joy in everyday experiences and tap into the deeper meaning of life.
Fortunately, with her guidance and encouragement, it is possible to do just this!
