How to Do Nothing

Jenny Odell

3.9 (18000) 8 min read 5 key ideas

An artist and writer's manifesto for resisting the attention economy through deliberate acts of 'doing nothing' and reclaiming unproductive time.

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Key takeaways

The Attention Economy Demands Constant Productive Engagement
'Doing Nothing' Represents Meaningful Resistance, Not Mere Laziness
Direct Engagement With Physical Place and Nature Restores Attention
Bioregional Awareness Connects Individual Attention to Broader Ecological Context
Reclaiming Attention Requires Ongoing, Deliberate Resistance

Final takeaway

Odell's closing invitation: engage in ongoing, deliberate practice of unstructured attention and place-based engagement as continued meaningful resistance against the attention economy's persistent demands, understanding this as an ongoing practice rather than a single completed act of disengagement.