Only by doing nothing can you do anything at all

How doing nothing makes you better at everything

I was giving a talk recently and a young woman in the audience raised her hand and said she found it hard to justify meditation, relaxation, exercise, and even time with her friends—because she fears all of these activities might diminish her productivity.

I felt immediate empathy. I struggle with this, too. But the good news is research indicates that rest actually boosts performance. I recently learned a great aphorism from the writer Pico Iyer: “Only by doing nothing can you do anything at all.”

Pico recently wrote a book about how he routinely spends time in silent retreat at a monastery in California—and how this downtime has helped him in all aspects of his life, from work to relationships and beyond.

Most of us are unlikely to make silent retreat a regular habit. (Although I highly recommend it if you’re able—I do it at least once a year.) So here are some tips from Pico about how to integrate quiet, stillness, and a little nothingness into your life in a noisy world:

• Limit news to five minutes a day. Beyond the first five minutes, Pico argues, you’re not learning facts—you’re just marinating in speculation, outrage, and noise.

• Also, don’t check the news first thing. Instead, meditate or read a book.

• The two-hour rule. No screens for two hours before bed. Pico says it’s the single best thing he can do for his sleep—which, in turn, determines how he shows up the next day.

• See a friend on the weekend—and turn your phone off. If you’re worried about missing something work-related, just put an out-of-office message on your email.

• “What I have is all I need.” This one’s challenging, but worth sitting with. Pico and his wife have lived for more than 30 years in a small two-room apartment, without a car or cell phone. He says that stripping back makes room for what matters. His definition of luxury is “not how much you have, but how much you don’t need.”

Many people worry that making time for themselves—whether in daily life or by going on retreat—is not only a productivity-killer but also perhaps selfish. Bullshit. Pico says you should think about it as an “inner savings account.” Unless you gather and protect your resources, you have nothing to give.

For more on how to find calm in a chaotic world, listen to today’s episode of 10% Happier with Pico Iyer.

Paid subscribers also get a companion meditation from our October Teacher of the Month, Sebene Selassie. This one’s called “Peace and Quiet” and is designed to help you access silence and stillness, no matter where you are. You can find the rest of Sebene’s meditations—and those from previous Teachers of the Month—on the Meditations page at DanHarris.com.

As a reminder, Sebene, Jeff Warren, Ofosu Jones-Quartey, and I are doing another version of our annual Meditation Party retreat this Oct. 24-26. It’s at the Omega Institute in upstate NY. Think four big sessions of meditation, conversation, and Q&A—with plenty of free time to hike the 240-acre campus, play some pickleball, shoot hoops, or just relax by the lake (yes, they’ve got kayaks). You can also drop into yoga or tai chi classes, and on Saturday night there’s even a dance party (totally optional, I promise). I hope you’ll join us. More info here.

Paid subscribers get the 10% Happier podcast ad-free, as well as:

• A cheatsheet for each episode — with key takeaways, time-coded highlights, and a transcript

• The ability to comment on posts and participate in subscriber chats

• Access to our weekly live video sessions, in which I and/or our meditation Teacher of the Month guide a meditation and take questions

• Tailor-made meditations every Monday and Wednesday, led by our meditation Teacher of the Month and designed to pair with the podcast episodes

Join the party.

Episode cheatsheet

The big takeaway

Acclaimed writer Pico Iyer shares how cultivating silence—even in a noisy, chaotic world—can be the ultimate luxury and a powerful tool for clarity, compassion, and renewal. Drawing on over three decades of monastic retreats, Iyer discusses how intentional solitude and stillness aren’t about escape, but about deepening our connection to ourselves, others, and what matters most.

Finding calm in a world on fire: Silence as renewal

Key takeaways:

• Monastic silence isn’t just quiet—it’s a charged, collective atmosphere that softens the ego and creates space for true connection.

• Rest and stillness aren’t self-indulgent; they’re essential for replenishing our inner resources so we can better serve, create, and show up for others.

• Real clarity and perspective often require stepping back—whether through retreat, daily practices, or intentional pauses—to see what really matters.

• Facing silence can be uncomfortable, but it’s an opportunity to meet what’s beneath our mental noise and build resilience for navigating life’s volatility.

6 practical tips for inviting more calm and clarity in daily life: