The Surprising Power of Doing Nothing

I recently read this from Daniel Pink in a LinkedIn post. I thought it was timely for May, Mental Health Awareness Month.

Every creative genius — from Da Vinci to Einstein — had one daily habit in common. And almost no one does it today. Here’s why it matters more than ever.  Neuroscientist Dr. Nancy Andreasen studied the lives of highly creative people. Mozart. Einstein. Da Vinci. She found a striking pattern. They all scheduled time each day to do... nothing. Da Vinci would sit silently in front of his paintings. Einstein would drift aimlessly in a boat. They weren’t brainstorming. They weren’t focused. They were letting their minds wander.

And that’s exactly the point.

We live in a time where every second feels like it should be filled with something. Podcasts while driving. Emails between meetings. A quick scroll on your phone because standing still in line feels like a waste. Stillness has become rare, and in many ways, uncomfortable.

But what if doing nothing was the most productive thing you could do today?

I’m not talking about binge-watching shows or zoning out on your phone. That’s doing something. I’m talking about the kind of intentional stillness where you aren’t focused on anything in particular. Your body may be moving, your eyes may be open, but your mind is simply allowed to wander.

Sounds unproductive, right? Let’s look at that in a different way.

When Doing Nothing Lights Up Your Brain

Neuroscientist Dr. Nancy Andreasen studied the lives of highly creative individuals, including Einstein, Da Vinci, and even modern-day writers. She discovered a surprising pattern: many of these people set aside time in their day to be still. They weren’t working, problem-solving, or brainstorming; they were simply present and unoccupied.

What she discovered is that during these quiet moments, the brain is far from inactive. Instead, it lights up. Multiple regions begin to interact, particularly the parts involved in memory, association, and imagination. This mental state is often called the “default mode network.” It kicks in when you’re not consciously focusing on a task.

It turns out that many creative insights don’t happen when we’re grinding through a problem. They appear when our brain is wandering freely, untethered by distractions or demands. Think about the idea that hits you in the shower, or the solution that arrives on a walk. That’s not coincidence. That’s neuroscience at work. (Your default mode network staying busy.)

Daydreaming Is Not a Dirty Word

I remember being in school and hearing the word “daydreaming” used as a mild insult. If you were caught staring off or not paying attention, it was seen as a problem. Your mind was somewhere else. You weren’t focused.

But what if that drifting attention was actually your brain doing its best creative work?

I’ve had this happen many times, especially when I’m listening to an audiobook. A certain phrase or idea catches me, and suddenly my mind is spinning in a new direction. I realize I haven’t heard the last two minutes of the book, but in return, I now have a handful of fresh ideas that connect directly to the work I’m doing. Not a bad tradeoff.

Leaders often feel pressure to be present, sharp, and on task at all times. But there’s power in letting your thoughts drift. When we give our minds space to roam, we often come back with new connections, better ideas, and answers we couldn’t force our way into.

Creativity in the Aisles

Retail leaders may not think of themselves as artists or composers, but creativity is everywhere in this work.

Trying to hit a difficult budget? You may need a creative approach to scheduling, expenses, or merchandising challenges. Stuck on how to hit sales targets? You might need a fresh angle. Running into resistance from a team? Creativity plays a huge role in communication, motivation, and problem-solving.

Sometimes we know the answers. But other times, we feel stuck. We’ve tried the same things, and nothing seems to work. It can feel like there’s no new idea left to try. And then, unexpectedly, the solution appears. Maybe it comes during a walk or while sipping your morning coffee. Maybe it shows up when you weren’t trying at all. That’s the hidden benefit of doing nothing. It helps you find what you didn’t know you were looking for.

Sleep can be another partner in this process. If you think about a problem right before bed, you may wake up with clarity or a new way forward. It doesn’t happen every time, but it likely happens more often than you know. The brain doesn’t stop working when we stop moving. It just works differently.

Creating White Space in a Busy Day

You don’t need a weekend retreat or hours of meditation to let your mind wander. In fact, some of the best mental white space can be built into the everyday rhythm of your day. One of my favorite ways is to walk the store in silence. No phone. No list. No specific task. Just walking. Early in my career, I would do this before opening or at quiet times, and I was always surprised by how many ideas came just by looking around without an agenda. Some ideas were small. Others made a bigger difference.

If you’re in a district or regional role, this same principle applies. Walking into a store without immediately diving into a checklist can open up new insights. Standing still at the front, walking the back room, or watching customer interactions without judgment can give your brain the kind of space it needs to form new connections.

Even your car can become a creative zone. Sit in the parking lot for five minutes before heading into the store. Don’t grab your phone. Don’t turn on the radio. Just sit. Watch the world around you. Let your mind go where it wants.

I walk on a treadmill almost every day. Normally, I’ll watch a show or listen to a podcast. But sometimes, I leave the screen off and the headphones out. I just walk. I don’t try to think about anything in particular. It’s a reset for my brain. Every time I do it, I feel better afterward. Clearer. Lighter. More ready to handle what’s next.

The common theme is this: doing nothing on purpose creates the conditions for better thinking.

Not All “Nothing” Is Equal

This might be the most important point of all. Not all stillness is the same.

Scrolling your phone or flipping through videos may seem like doing nothing, but they’re just another form of input. Your brain is still reacting and processing, which means it’s not resting. It’s being pulled in dozens of directions at once. That’s not the kind of mental space we’re talking about here.

Intentional stillness is different. It’s a pause. A clearing. A chance to let go of focus long enough for something new to appear.

Give Yourself Permission

Leaders often feel the need to be “on” at all times. Constantly solving, deciding, and delivering. But that kind of nonstop pressure doesn’t make us better. It makes us tired, reactive, and stuck in what we already know.

Sometimes your brain needs a break. And that’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

Letting your mind wander for a few minutes is not a waste. It’s a powerful tool to unlock new insights, improve mental health, and find fresh energy. You don’t need permission from anyone else. But if it helps, consider this it.

If you want more examples of how rest and reflection can support your leadership, take a look at Don’t Run on Empty and Stop Overthinking, Change Your Soundtracks. Both reinforce this same idea from different angles. Your next great idea may not come from a meeting, a spreadsheet, or a dashboard. It might come when you're doing nothing at all.

When do you find your best, most creative ideas coming to you?

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