Barley a lifestyle

 

Not Bertrand Russell, but Still Worth Reading

🕰️ My thoughts on Alan Lightman’s In Praise of Wasting Time

(Lightman, 2018)

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🌿

When I saw the title In Praise of Wasting Time, I thought, “Ah—maybe it’s like Bertrand Russell’s In Praise of Idleness.” But it’s not the same. While Russell talks about big ideas and society, Alan Lightman takes a softer and more personal approach.

This short book is all about how we’re always busy, always online, always doing. And how that’s not always a good thing. Lightman says:

“We need time to do nothing, to be idle. Time to rest our brains and our bodies, to restore our spirits” (2018, p. 12).

It sounds lovely, right? Just sitting, thinking, resting... ☁️🧘‍♀️

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📱

(Pinterest, n.d.)

Lightman writes in a calm but serious way. He says we’re losing our ability to think deeply because we don’t give ourselves any real quiet time.

“The brain needs periods of rest. The connections and insights we value most—creativity, memory, emotional depth—are more likely to emerge when the mind is quiet” (p. 17).

I totally agree with that. But here’s my truth: I’ve tried. I’ve had mornings with no screens, tea breaks with no phone, even full “digital detox” Sundays. But I always feel the pull. That itch to check my phone, check the news, check something.

FOMO—the fear of missing out—isn’t just a word I read online. It’s how I feel. Lightman says:

“We fear being left out, left behind, or simply left alone. So we stay plugged in, hoping we won’t miss something important” (p. 33).

Exactly. I don’t want to miss out on what’s happening around me. Being offline sometimes makes me feel... invisible.

He also writes:

“When we are always engaged and stimulated, we lose the ability to know ourselves” (p. 45).

That line really hit me. I know I need quiet time. But knowing and actually doing it? Two very different things.

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🌈

In Praise of Wasting Time isn’t a long book, but it makes you think. It’s part warning and part reminder: you need to slow down sometimes.

“Time we waste is often the most fertile” (Lightman, 2018, p. 54).

I want to believe that. I want to be someone who can be productive and still take time to just think, dream, and rest. But can I really do both?

Right now, with my busy university life, my job, and being far from the people I love, it’s really hard to unplug. I feel like I have to stay connected—to manage, to cope, to feel close to others.

Still, something in Lightman’s words makes me want to try. Even just for five quiet minutes a day. Maybe that’s a start.

If you’ve figured out how to take breaks and still feel okay, I’d love to hear from you. And if you’re stuck in the same place as me—craving peace but scared to disconnect—you’re definitely not alone. Maybe we can figure it out together. 💬🌱

(Lewis, n.d.)

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Bibliography

• Lewis, J., n.d. Stop right now. Thank you very much. BuzzFeed [online]. Available at: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenlewis/stop-right-now-thank-you-very-much
• Lightman, A., 2018. In Praise of Wasting Time. New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Lightman, A., 2018. In Praise of Wasting Time. Simon & Schuster UK, 15 May. Available at: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/In-Praise-of-Wasting-Time/Alan-Lightman/TED-Books/9781471168598
• Pinterest, n.d. Vintage‑style illustration featuring pink characters and toys. [online] Pinterest. Available at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/224687468885712721/