I’d like to just sit here

Is it trendy to not have any time? Is the concept of boredom, retreating, taking a break, doing nothing just for romanticists? Or why exactly do we fill the breaks in everyday life with the quick-paced handling of this and that? Does every minute need to be productive? Is time money? Or is having the time to take your time perhaps more valuable than money could ever be?

by Doris Büchel

«Hermann, what are you doing there?»
«Nothing.»
«Nothing? Why nothing?»
«I’m not doing anything.»
«Nothing at all?»
«Nope.»
«Absolutely nothing?»
«No. I’m just sitting here.»
«You’re sitting there?»
«Yes.»

Sound familiar? You sit at your desk, on the sofa, at the kitchen table – and stare off into the distance. Maybe you’re drumming your fingers, or tapping your feet. After all, you really should be writing a text, buying a birthday gift, or bundling up scrap paper. You should, but you don’t want to. Maybe because you’re just not in the mood for it. Because you don’t feel like pulling yourself together. Because your focus on the thing between the chair and the table has slipped away and is nowhere to be found. The problem is that all these things are on your to-do list today. And you know that if you don’t write this text, buy this birthday gift, or bundle this scrap paper today, then when? After all, your schedule is fully booked tomorrow, and the day after that. We ride our to-do wave like a rubber dinghy on the stormy sea. Work, hobbies, friends, children, love, cats, the household – and sometimes you just want to do nothing at all. You’ve got twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at your disposal. That has to be enough for the week! It’s a good thing that the boundaries between work and leisure have become so fluid, and that rigid working hours are diluting further and further. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: it’s not the day of the week and the time that decide when we are online or offline, when we work, when we go shopping, go to the hairdresser, invite friends, meet up with family – we decide that for ourselves. So much freedom, hurrah! Or rather: oh dear?

Is it trendy to not have any time? Is the concept of boredom, retreating, taking a break, doing nothing just for romanticists? Or why exactly do we fill the breaks in everyday life with the quick-paced handling of this and that? Does every minute need to be productive? Is time money? Or is having the time to take your time perhaps more valuable than money could ever be? We are still sitting at our desk, on the sofa, at the kitchen table – and staring, drumming, tapping. Once again, the text remains unwritten, the birthday gift un-bought, the scrap paper un-bundled. What now? Do we procrastinate further or do we pull ourselves together? Do we wallow in a guilty conscience a little longer and push the things before us aside? Or do we shred the to-do list, let go and commit to consciously doing nothing? Doing nothing: is it even possible? If yes, how?

Hand on heart: How often do we enjoy the view of the sky, the wallpaper, the grass – just like that, without meaning, reason, purpose or a goal? When was the last time we did nothing? I mean: hanging out, chilling, doing nothing, nothing nothing? I mean: more than seven minutes at a time? When was the last time we were properly bored? Oh, good old boredom ... do you remember it?

«But Hermann, surely you’re doing something?»
«Nope.»
«Are you thinking about anything?»
«Nothing in particular.»
«It wouldn’t hurt to go for a little walk.»
«No, no.»
«I’ll bring you your coat.»
«No, thank you.»
«But it’s too cold without a coat.»
«But I’m not going for a walk.»
«But you wanted to go just a moment ago.»
«No, you wanted me to go for a walk.»

«Moments of reflection show us our true selves, and sometimes this self is a danger zone in our heads.»

Okay, well, you’re right, of course. We should first define what boredom even is. Let’s ask Dr Frank Berzbach about this. He teaches literary education and philosophy at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences and is the author of several books – including many bestsellers such as «The art of leading a creative life», «The shape of beauty» and «Reading art». In his latest book «The art of believing – a mysticism of everyday life», Frank Berzbach invites us to look deeper, far beneath the surface of everything we see, freedom and beauty – we can find them in faith. Frank Berzbach firmly holds this belief.

Frank, what is boredom?
Something that I encounter very rarely. We can’t generally bring ourselves to get involved in anything in this state. We want to do something, but we don’t. This doesn’t have to be actionism: after all, lying down on the sofa and just taking in its scent is also a decision. If you’re bored, you’re not devoting yourself to work or leisure – you’re temporarily incapable of doing so.

What positive aspects do you see in boredom from a spiritual (and/or scientific) perspective?
Moments of often forced reflection show us our true selves, and sometimes this self is a danger zone in our heads. Of course, this doesn’t apply to exploitative, monotonous working conditions, which only dull us. Generally speaking, boredom is a luxury of the affluent.

What is the appropriate response to boredom?
Not everything has to be overwhelmingly enjoyable, some things just have to be done. Anyone who suffers from long-term boredom certainly needs to change more in their life than just this unpleasant feeling. One might experience a little boredom in everyday life, like when you have to wait for your train longer than usual – and there’s the great boredom of finding yourself stuck in an uninspiring romantic relationship. For some, patience is an exercise and a virtue, but when it comes to the big issues, we are faced with life decisions.

Why should we accept boredom, or what could we be missing out on if we refuse to accept it?
Boredom is a state in which we can become aware of certain things. Do I want to do what I’m doing right now? How long will it take? Am I impatient? Am I influencing what is happening (or not)? Not being bored is a gift; anyone who experiences boredom as a positive moment of reflection, perhaps even as a break from constant activity, is doing a lot of things right. When I get bored, I look around to see what practical things I could do. And anyone who runs a household knows: something will certainly come along. If I’m bored by a novel, I either stop reading it immediately (if it’s not important reading material) or I persevere resolutely if I really want to read something – one or the other. One thing is never helpful: complaining about your own boredom to others!

«So what do you want?»
«I want to sit here.»
«You drive me crazy!»
«Come on!»
«First you want to go for a walk, then you don’t, then you want me to get your coat, then you don’t... what now?»
«I want to sit here.»
«And now suddenly you want to sit there!»
«It wasn’t sudden, I’ve always wanted to just sit here.»
«Sit?»
«I want to sit here and relax.»

One person who not only practices doing nothing, but even celebrates it, is Sarah Buchli. Like most yoga teachers, the mother of three and owner of the yoga studio in Werdenberg ends each class with Shavasana, the corpse pose. Following their physical exercises, the participants lie on their backs, cover themselves with a warm blanket, close their eyes and practice purposefully letting go. «It’s not always easy to allow the stillness. To simply spend time with yourself, without distraction. This is the biggest challenge for many of us,» she says. It’s not uncommon for tears to flow. Sarah Buchli: «In the silence, emotions rise up and tensions that we may have been holding for weeks are released. We allow ourselves a kind of vulnerability and softness that we don’t permit during the chaos of everyday life.»

«To simply spend time with yourself, without distraction. This is the biggest challenge for many of us.»

Yes, life, the pressure of everyday life, can be hard sometimes. But we all know how valuable idleness is for body, mind and soul. Sarah Buchli also incorporates stillness into her everyday life, for example by purposefully turning off the radio while driving, meditating daily and regularly closing her eyes for a few minutes and listening to her own breathing. «At first, you notice your restless mind, but after a while you feel the peace and serenity.» After all, in order to hear your own needs and inner voice, to digest the many influences and impressions from the outside world, you must reduce the noise of everyday life to a minimum from time to time. «This not only grounds us, but also makes us more alert and present.» She sees this every day in her yoga studio: «For me, Shavasana is the best moment of the whole class. The masks on faces and the many roles we adopt throughout the day simply fall away.»

Productivity is not the only measure when it comes to using time wisely. On the contrary, the best ideas are rarely born during a meeting or in front of the computer, but rather spontaneously and when we least expect it: in the shower perhaps, during a walk or while watching the clouds. I think it’s worth rediscovering the joy of doing nothing – just for the sake of pure enjoyment, our creativity and peace of mind. What do you mean?

Well, if nothing appeals to you and you’re currently giving in to boredom or indulging in the sweet pleasure of doing nothing – congratulations. I’m proud of you!

«Hermann?»
…
«No, no.»
«You’re not doing anything enjoyable. Instead, you’re just sitting there!»
«I’m sitting there because I enjoy it.»
«Don’t get so aggressive!»
«But I’m not aggressive.»
«Why are you shouting at me like that?»
«I’M NOT SHOUTIIIIIING!»

From: Loriot, «I just want to sit here.»