About Lazy Days

“Lazy days” are an essential practice for overcoming the habitual “doing” mindset prevalent in American culture. Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings, the idea of a "lazy day" is about taking a break from constant action and giving time for being, rather than doing. These days involve slowing down, engaging in mindful activities like tea-drinking, reading, walking, and meditating, to reconnect with life in a relaxed, present way. The purpose is to counteract the habitual “doing” that dominates everyday life, allowing space for just "being."

The emphasis here is the importance of taking refuge in Buddhist practices for personal transformation, the value of mindful ethical guidelines, and the necessity of regular breaks (like lazy days) to restore balance and reconnect with the present moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh's perspective on modern life has a particular emphasis on recognizing the dangers of constantly "doing" and the importance of learning to "be." Thich Nhat Hanh noticed that in Western cultures—and increasingly in Vietnamese communities abroad—people were becoming overwhelmed by the pressures of doing, which led to anxiety, depression, family problems, and addiction. These issues, according to Thich Nhat Hanh, stemmed from a loss of connection with the self, as people identified solely by their actions and accomplishments rather than their inherent being.

Thich Nhat Hanh emphasized that human beings are meant to "be" as well as "do," and that without taking time to stop, reflect, and reconnect with ourselves, we risk living in a constant cycle of activity that only leads to stress and discontent. The concept of a "lazy day" was introduced as a radical antidote to this overactive "doing" mindset. A lazy day is meant to be free from scheduled tasks and obligations, where individuals can simply exist—through practices like meditation, walking, reading, or just being present in nature. These days help restore balance and allow individuals to deeply reflect on their lives, practices, and relationships without the pressure of constant productivity.

We can connect this idea to the broader cultural tradition of rest, comparing the lazy day to the Sabbath in Judeo-Christian cultures, which was historically a day of rest and reflection, free from work. In contrast, modern society has become so driven by tasks and entertainment that people feel uncomfortable with even brief moments of inactivity. Many people now fill every spare moment with checking emails or social media, reinforcing a pattern of mindless doing and constant stimulation. This behavior, while seemingly normal, is actually damaging to mental well-being because it prevents us from being present with ourselves and connecting deeply with the world around us.

We can consider the value of simply being—through practices like taking lazy days, meditating, or just sitting in silence. Our culture’s obsession with doing and constant activity leads to an unhealthy, unsustainable lifestyle. Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings encourage a shift toward a more balanced, mindful way of living that values inner stillness and presence as much as outer accomplishment.

Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy emphasizes a deep interconnection between our personal habits, the way we live our lives, and the broader challenges of mental health and societal well-being. Many of the struggles we face, such as anxiety, depression, and addiction, are often symptoms of a deeper issue: our inability to simply be—to exist without the constant need for stimulation and distraction.

An important turning point in the realization is that we can’t change the world, but we can change ourselves. This idea is empowering because it suggests that the path to healing and well-being starts with individual action, and each of us has the ability to alter our own habits and mindset. This is why Thich Nhat Hanh, despite being incredibly productive and influential, proudly referred to himself as a "lazy monk"—because his productivity stemmed from a deep sense of being, not from mindless activity.

This paradox is crucial to understand: we may live highly busy lives, but if we don't stop to reconnect with our inner selves, all that activity is empty. Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged monks and practitioners to practice “doing nothing” as an experiment in being. For example, he had them lie in hammocks, do nothing, and just exist—something so simple yet challenging in today's fast-paced, overstimulated world. This was an essential practice to show them that they could be present, they could exist without constantly doing something.

We can draw an analogy with addiction, where individuals are often uncomfortable with stillness or "not doing" because they've become dependent on external stimulation. This is similar to how people who are recovering from addiction must relearn how to live without the crutch of a substance. Once they learn to be present with themselves, they realize that life can be far richer and more fulfilling than they thought. This is what meditation and mindfulness aim to teach: that life is about being present—not constantly chasing after the next task or stimulation.

Thich Nhat Hanh was aware that our modern society, especially in the West, is built on a constant state of doing, which has led to a lack of peace and genuine connection. Even simple acts like checking our phones constantly or filling every free moment with something to do are signs of a culture that struggles to be present. Many people find it hard to disconnect, even in their own homes, and that the temptation to stay "plugged in" is overwhelming.

The idea of creating a "new civilization" is not about technological or material advancements but about transforming how we relate to one another and ourselves. It’s about practicing compassion, kindness, and mindfulness in our daily lives, so that we can create a more peaceful, harmonious world. Thich Nhat Hanh believed that this change had to start at the individual level. You want a more peaceful world? Become a more peaceful person. You want a more loving world? Become a more loving person.

Ultimately,  this practice calls on us as a community to reflect on how we are living our lives and to consider taking time to practice "being" rather than "doing." By slowing down, engaging in mindful practices, and rethinking the relentless pace of modern life, we have the opportunity to restore balance and create a more compassionate and grounded way of living—not only for ourselves but also for the world at large.

This notion of a "lazy day" is closely tied to Thich Nhat Hanh's meditation practices, particularly the concept of stopping. Meditation is about creating space in our minds to pause and be still, to observe our thoughts and feelings rather than constantly reacting to them. This type of meditation, known as samatha (or calming meditation), allows us to create a mental stop, an intentional break from the constant stream of thoughts. Thich Nhat Hanh used the word "stopping" to convey how essential it is to take time out to reflect and just be. The idea here is that when we stop, we can check in with ourselves—how are we really doing? How is the person doing, beyond all the tasks and responsibilities?

This is a critical point: many people today are busy but not necessarily thriving. They are caught in a cycle of doing without asking themselves the important question, How am I doing? A lazy day gives us the space to reflect on that deeper question, away from the distractions of work, social media, and obligations. It’s a day to reconnect with the being behind all the doing.

In essence, the practice of a "lazy day" is a radical act of self-care and self-discovery. It is an opportunity to stop, reflect, and ask ourselves if our way of living is really working. It’s about giving ourselves the space to experience being instead of just doing all the time. Iit's also about creating boundaries and acknowledging that sometimes our need to always be busy is actually a sign of deeper discomfort—of not wanting to be alone with ourselves or face the emptiness of always chasing the next thing.

We are encouraged as a community to embrace this practice, whether as a day of full non-doing or by simply integrating moments throughout the day where we "stop" and check in with ourselves. In a culture where we often push ourselves forward without pause, a lazy day can serve as a much-needed reset, allowing us to regain our balance, nurture our connections, and ultimately reconnect with the essence of who we are beyond our tasks and to-do lists.

We could learn a lot from the way animals live—they take their time, they relax, they enjoy life, and when something important comes up, they respond with full presence and energy. This concept of "lazy days" is about embracing the idea of rest as nourishment, allowing ourselves to step off the treadmill of constant doing, and learning to just be. The idea is that when we take time for ourselves, without feeling guilty, we are better equipped to face the demands of life in a more mindful and present way.

Lazy days are not about avoiding action or being passive, but about engaging with life from a place of ease, non-attachment, and lightness. When we approach tasks without tightness or a sense of urgency, we are practicing the “non-action of action.” This means we can be fully engaged in what we need to do, but with a mindset that doesn't create unnecessary stress or heaviness.

This shift from rushing to ease, from doing to being, is a central part of the lazy day practice. It’s not about laziness in the negative sense but about creating space to simply exist, experience the world around us, and engage with it more fully.

Lazy days don’t happen by accident. To cultivate this intentional rest and being, we need to actively plan it, even if just for half a day to start. It’s about making space for being, and once we begin, we can gradually bring that sense of ease into all areas of our lives, including our work.

The idea of "non-action" in action—moving through life with ease, intention, and lightness—sounds like something we could all use more of, doesn’t it? It’s almost like learning to do without “doing” so much.