The Fine Art of Doing Diddly-Squat
Why a Tech Veteran Learned to Embrace the Power of Pause
After working in tech for fifty years, I’ve learned something important: sometimes the best thing you can do is absolutely nothing. Let that sink in for a moment.
Last month, I was in the middle of a complicated AI project when my computer crashed — the dreaded blue screen of death. Normally, I’d rush to fix it right away, but instead, I just sat there, resisting the urge to fix it immediately.
Sometimes, doing nothing is exactly what you need.
The Power of Taking a Pause
After years of going from one crisis to the next — in the military and government IT — I realized that taking a break can be more powerful than trying to fix everything right away.
Running my own tech company, I’ve found that sometimes a pause is what leads to the best solutions. When you’ve been around as long as I have, you start to see patterns.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that pausing can lead to better outcomes.
Back when I worked in civil service, I saw a network meltdown that made everyone panic. While they were running around trying to fix it, I just sat back and drank my coffee.
Ten minutes later, I figured out the problem — a simple setup mistake. That pause helped me see the solution clearly.
Science Backs It Up
It turns out that science supports this too. Studies on the ‘default mode network’ show that our brains often work best when we’re not forcing them to solve problems. It’s like hitting a mental reset button.
I remember one time when I was building a chatbot that just wouldn’t work. After days of frustration, I took a break, watched the clouds, and suddenly the answer came to me — out of nowhere.
The Productivity Paradox
It might sound strange, but doing nothing can actually make you more productive. When you’re always pushing yourself, you’re about as effective as trying to code with your shoelaces.
I even made “do nothing” breaks mandatory at my company, and guess what? Productivity went up, and we had fewer bugs.
How to Master Doing Nothing
Want to get good at doing nothing? Start small. Five minutes of real mental rest is harder than you think. Try focusing on your breathing or listening to calming music to help your mind truly relax.
Find your own “nothing” spot — mine is an old rocking chair in front of my server rack. And remember, scrolling through social media doesn’t count. That’s like trying to relax while wrestling a raccoon.
The Bottom Line
After all these years of watching technology change, I’ve learned that sometimes the best way forward is to pause. A young developer once asked me the secret to my long career.
I told him about the time I solved a big problem while my coffee got cold. He thought I was joking, but the best answers often come when you let your mind wander.
So next time you’re stuck, remember: doing nothing might just be the smartest thing you do all day. And if anyone asks, just say you’re running a “neural optimization.” Technically, you’re not lying.
Created with the assistance of AI Tools.
