Tag Archives: sometimes the best thing to do is nothing

If Writer’s Block Is Brain Freeze, How Do You Thaw Your Brain?


The paralysis of writer’s block feels like your brain is frozen. All mammals freeze when we’re threatened. When mammals first appeared on the evolutionary tree, freezing was a good way to escape notice of the reigning kings of creation, dinosaurs. True writer’s block – the paralysis of not being able to write, being unable to […]

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Nothing Beats the Power of Nothing


In a previous post I suggested that sometimes the best thing to is nothing. I have new evidence for the power of “doing nothing.” Studies show that when rats experience something new, their brains create new patterns of activity. Nothing unexpected there, but here’s the kicker: to create a long-term memory, in other words, to really learn […]

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Don’t Just Stand There, Do Something!


Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing… Sometimes the best thing to do is something… Sometimes the best thing to do is anything. How do you tell what time it is for you? It depends on what you’ve been doing lately. If you’ve been working on “something” – a particular piece of writing for […]

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Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There!


Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing… An article in the Wall Street Journal discusses several research studies that strongly suggest that professionals work better when we work less. I believe this is especially true of creative professionals. I have to say I’m not surprised. Creative people must honor the cycles of work AND rest. Go, […]

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