Rethinking Idleness, Productivity, and Time Management: A Call to Do Nothing, More

Rethinking Idleness, Productivity, and Time Management: A Call to Do Nothing, More

Abstract

Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 31:368–369, 2010 Copyright © 2010 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 0161-2840 print / 1096-4673 online DOI: 10.3109/01612840903477653 COMMENTS, CRITIQUE, AND INSPIRATION COLUMN Rethinking Idleness, Productivity, and Time Management: A Call to Do Nothing, More Mona M. Shattell, PhD, RN University of North Carolina at Greensboro, School of Nursing, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Edited by Mona M. Shattell, PhD, RN University of North Carolina at Greensboro, School of Nursing, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Our world is filled with distractions. We are incessantly “connected” via cell phone and e-mail, smartphones and laptop computers, and computer websites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, which all make Google seem like a blast from the past. Social networking sites are touted as a good way to get and stay connected with people. We have taken to sending and receiving text messages (“texting”) instead of talking to one another. These instantaneous and ever-present communication tools make idle time non-existent. Every moment is a possible moment to check e-mail, tweet, text, or surf, taking away from time to be idle and do nothing or, just as bad, interrupting us from meaningful work and real connections with others. Equally as important