What do you do when there’s nothing to do?

Do you do something that feeds your soul? Or do you do something mindless – playing games on your phone, scrolling through social media, or watching something on Netflix?

I have realised that time I used to spend reading, praying, making and resting has been eaten away by these addictive, unfulfilling activities.

I feel tired, too tired to be bothered with things I really want to do, so I do those other things. I read lists of things that people think are funny or interesting, I try to meet some meaningless goal in a game. I watch videos I’m not even interested in. As I think about how many hours I spend each week doing these things I am appalled. And yet it is so incredibly hard to stop.

I think the time has probably come – no, has come – to call a halt. To recognise that I am addicted, and that these things that I think bring me rest really don’t.

To go back to the things that I used to do to bring me rest.

It won’t be easy. Changing habits never is. And social media producers and games designers work hard to keep us coming back. But I’m going to give it a red-hot go.

I am going to limit my use of Facebook to just interacting with things that bring value to my life, like my author networks and friends, and not looking at lists or timewasters, and I’m going to give up on games on my phone or tablet.

Instead, I will read or write or sew or knit, or garden or pray or meditate or stretch or walk or paint or draw or sit in the sun and relax. I will choose not to believe the lie that I’m too tired to do these things, but I have the energy to meet random goals on some game or read a list of things bad bosses have done, or funniest quotes this week.

Will you join me? Tell us in the comments.

Hi, I'm Chris!

I'm an Australian Christian author, blogger and speaker who has published one book - Diamonds from the King - which is a book of stories from my life of ways that God has worked to bring precious diamonds from suffering, disappointment and confusion.

I'm a mum, granny and wife and I love spending time with my grown kids and my four and counting grandkids, but my greatest passion is to get to know God better, and to share his wonder with the world.

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