Amidst a daily experience of the stresses of college, the afternoon for many students becomes a twilight for morning motivation and energy for classes, and instead transforms into something more social. At a more personal level, I haven’t been able to recall an afternoon where I was productive. I initially connected it to myself procrastinating a lot, and to be completely honest, this interpretation isn’t entirely wrong. However, I would eventually reflect on what I usually do on afternoons compared to my expectations, and how I usually describe my routine. I don’t just go to have lunch in the mess hall or even go sit and watch a few youtube videos. I also like many others, like to relax in a breezy yet busy place such as the plaza of the campus between the library and one of the academic buildings, or perhaps in the student activity centre where there are lots of empty sofas to sit or lay down during that period of time. The ability to be in comfort either with your friends or by yourself increasingly feels like a luxury as the university term progresses. Having a cup of coffee or chai is often seen by many as a way to calm the mind, yet I rarely see anyone holding a cup sit down to drink. For many people, it seems that they often have a pre-planned schedule, which while a noble direction to be organised can eventually feel suffocating. I as well find myself guilty of this action too, as on odd days, I find myself rushing to class and even obsessing over revising my notes where I eventually find myself in a royal mess, unable to fulfil what I wanted to do, I realise I needed a clear mind and that can be done through being at peace and relaxation.
Through this, I recognise a need to not just relax in any way, but to relearn the art of simply doing absolutely nothing and not constantly have the urge to do something, even if it supposedly entertains me like social media. The art of doing nothing could make a good afternoon whether you’re alone or with your friends, or whether you’re in your dorm room or in a public space, you are granted an opportunity to put aside your responsibilities and place your hundreds of thoughts together in a coherent way. Increasingly, it seems like an underrated way of spending the afternoon on any given day to pause and really have a look around on what has happened so far that led you to the very moment you live in rather than continuously be focused on your work or on a predetermined goal. While once again noble to be focused on your work in a world of diminishing attention spans, it can for some people including myself be hard without a clear mind. Doing nothing finds a way for me to clear my mind, freshen myself to what will come in the future, and even help with my creativity process. I have multiple topics and ideas to draw about or ideas for stories, but I can’t do that when they’re constantly competing with each other like an intense wrestling match. The ability to spend time with yourself or with your friends under the AC or fan in either your room or in a public space has made me feel not just a sense of being calm or self reflective, but also bonding with entire communities who share the same struggles or even wish to relax as well. In effect, the art of doing nothing despite the name can be a more productive way than just scrolling on your phone, or immediately immersing yourself in your work. Afterall, if humans are good at one thing, it’s not the many achievements or philosophies that motivate us, it’s the ability to relax at the right time.