The Fine Art of Puttering
When I feel maxed out from stress, overwhelm, or burnout, as I often do at the end of the week. I give myself over to a day of puttering.
If the thought of spending a day in an aimless or idle manner immediately arouses a roar of resistance, I understand. You might feel you’re too busy; it would be impossible.
We’re programmed to get things done, aren’t we? We don’t feel successful unless we cross off every item on our to-do list.
But as science and medicine tell us again and again, constant busyness can have severe consequences from fatigue to full-on burnout to stress-induced illness.
So, let’s clear up some misconceptions about puttering, look at its benefits, and fill out your official permission slip to pause and putter.
The Meaning of Puttering
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “putter” like this:
“To move or act aimlessly or idly”
“To work at random”
Puttering around doesn’t mean doing “nothing,” the thought of which might indeed induce terror in your heart.
For example, on my last day of puttering, I did a brain dump onto paper, investigated a lamp that no longer lit up, and cleaned the fridge but in a very relaxed way.
I hadn’t planned to do any of those things. I just woke up that morning and followed my nose in an instinctual and random fashion.
Puttering can mean wandering around the house and attending to whatever small task catches your eye. It can mean walking into the garden, looking around in a casual fashion, and then re-potting a plant that has gotten way too big for its pot. Puttering can mean staring into space while engrossed in a daydream.
Puttering most typically involves mindless tasks so it gives your brain a break. Even so, it’s not necessarily mindless. This type of fiddling and doodling can bring you into a joyful present state called now.
Puttering is not the same as intense house cleaning that must be done to satisfy your to-do list. And pottering around is actually devoid of to-do lists, action plans, goals, and deadlines.
The Benefits of Puttering
Puttering is good for you. If you need an excuse, consider that.
This BBC article identifies three science-informed reasons why puttering around the house can be highly therapeutic:
It occupies the mind so you’re less inclined to worry.
It’s proactive and useful so it can introduce a feeling of “perceived control,” which calms the nervous system.
It can lead to a tidier environment which can reduce feelings of inner chaos and increase focus too.
In contrast, working long hours can increase your chance of illness and injury. According to Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the risks include both physical and mental illnesses ranging from hypertension to diabetes to depression.
Indeed, multiple studies have shown that increasing work hours does not increase work productivity. Our best work occurs in the two to six hour range. So why are you killing yourself for diminishing returns?
You deserve all the goodness that comes from an unhurried day of fiddling around. Clearly, you also need it to stay physically healthy and emotionally balanced too.
12 Ways to Putter Like a Pro
Puttering is meant to be a series of random acts. Like a butterfly flitting from one flower to another, meander from room to room and see what calls to you.
Attend to it in a relaxed way. Then attend to whatever calls you next.
It’s okay to take unlimited breaks in-between. Naps also count as approved activities on puttering days.
If the thought of puttering feels foreign, unknown or makes your mind go blank, here are a few ideas to get your started:
Change a light bulb
Hang a picture that’s been waiting forever for its place
Flip through a magazine without reading
Throw away old cosmetics
Dump dated catalogs or magazines that have piled up
Organize a drawer
Browse recipes
Attack a pile of unopened mail
Move furniture around
Pluck dead leaves off houseplants or pull a weed or two
Clean off your desk
Discard past “use by date” medications and vitamins
It’s okay to talk or sing to yourself as you go about your unhurried day.
Closing Thoughts
Puttering is an effective and enjoyable antidote to an overly busy life. You don’t need a plan and there’s nothing specific to achieve.
Just wake up one morning and decide this is the day. If you can’t spend an entire day in aimless pursuits, spend just an hour or two for a start.
Put aside your to-do list and hide your phone. Look around and see what mindless task calls to you. Want to organize your books according to color? That would be great!
Whatever draws you, approach it in a relaxed way. Allow the pleasure of puttering to marry the joy of each moment. You’re on your way.
Thank you for your presence, I know your time is precious! Don’t forget to sign up for Wild Arisings, my twice monthly letters from the heart filled with insights, inspiration, and ideas to help you connect with and live from your truest self.
You might also like to check out my Living with Ease course or visit my Self-Care Shop. May you be happy, well, and safe – always. With love, Sandra