My obvious answers to this WordPress Daily Writing Prompt, “something on your to-do list that never gets done,” are things like laundry, dishes, meal planning, and all the cyclical things in life. But upon reading this prompt I thought, “maybe not everything is meant to get done.”
Finding Meaning in the Mundane
Maybe the pile of dishes gets us off the couch to use our legs, hands and mind for just a moment before going back to our screens. Maybe the unfolded laundry gives us a chance to speak to our little furry friend that was cuddled on top of the pile. Maybe planning a meal stretches a creative muscle that we needed to be reminded of. And maybe never finishing that art piece gives us something to mull over in our quiet moments, pushing us to look for and want more.
A Day with Nothing to Do
Consider a day where you have nothing to do. You’re rested, all your friend have been caught up with, your meals are ready to go for each stage of the day, you did all the exciting things in the world last week, you have no projects set before you. Anything you’re considering you would do with this time, just assume you’ve already done that very recently, and there’s nothing pulling at you to explore or engage with. No one is asking for your time either. Time at a standstill but with nothing before to consider moving toward.
Doing Nothing is Not an Option
Research studies have shown that you put a human in a room with only a box they are told not to touch or it will shock them, and give time with no engagement, they touch the box. They get shocked. In time, they touch it again.
Humans need something to do. We are not idle creatures.
Leave us alone with our thoughts and we get bored.
So maybe those unfinished items on the to do list serve a purpose. They’re something to do after all.
Something to Do
So leave that item on your to-do list, don’t bemoan when there are more dishes to be done, always search for the next “to-do.” You’re wired to prefer pain to boredom after all.
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