It may seem illogical (and even ironical) to defend idleness. To many, the very thought of idling is horrifying. Yet, no matter what its critics may say, there’s something about idling that’s patently irresistible at times. Maybe it’s our ‘couldn’t-care-less’ attitude to the consequences of idling, or perhaps it’s the sheer pleasure of yielding to the temptation of doing absolutely nothing — and enjoying every minute of it. This is particularly so in a world driven inexorably by hectic work schedules, in a world dominated by work and little else.
It’s a fact, of course, that idleness is basically rooted in indolence. To some, idling is as pleasurable as it’s detestable to others. Admittedly, it’s a morbid state of mind that, if not shaken off resolutely, can easily turn chronic and blight one’s life.
It was humorist Jerome K. Jerome who once observed tongue-in-cheek, “I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” And then, in almost the same breath, he went on to add, quite irrepressibly, “It’s impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do!” It’s a perverse sentiment, echoed by another humorist Mary Wilson Little who observed jocularly, “There’s no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it!”
The dividing line between idling and relaxation or leisure is deceptive, for an inveterate idler may look as though he’s relaxing or unwinding when he’s actually doing neither. Perhaps it was this that prompted American author Burton Rascoe to lament, “What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working even when he’s merely staring out of the window!”
Idling and day-dreaming usually go hand in hand, amiably complementing each other. Yet, thanks to mental conditioning over the years, we tend to brand idling as an abominable vice to be avoided as far as possible. We seldom realise it’s indeed an effective ‘safety valve’ that enables us to counter and withstand the punishing pressures of our workday lives. As such, one certainly doesn’t have to feel guilty about indulging in a spell of well-earned and fully justified idleness after completing a stint of physically or mentally draining work. Indeed, one owes it to oneself.
When one has conscientiously completed a task to one’s entire satisfaction, there’s absolutely no reason one shouldn’t take a break and put up one’s feet to enjoy a spell of blissful idleness, more so given the constant and unrelenting work demands made on one’s time and energy. There cannot be any stigma or compunction in idling awhile (or occasionally) under such circumstances.
I’m certainly not advocating irresponsible or unjustified idleness in any manner. Rather, the intention is to highlight what an occasional spell of absolute inactivity (as opposed to relaxation or leisure) can do to recharge one’s batteries, re-ignite one’s interest in and renew one’s commitment to one’s job. There’s no denying it: everyone inevitably succumbs to the temptation of idling now and then, and it does one far more good than one can imagine.