You don’t need us to tell you: Burnout is on the rise, and women are more likely to feel burned out compared to men. Much of this burnout can be attributed to work, but, frankly, most of us have a lot more on our plates than just a 9-to-5. There are also parenting and caregiving duties, responsibilities around the house, demanding relationships, health issues, personal goals, and loads of other factors that can leave us feeling like we’re running on fumes. Though it might be tempting to unplug from the world and hide under a mound of blankets to escape it all, there’s another solution for burnout that’s (almost) just as easy.
We’ve discussed niksen, the Dutch concept of doing nothing, before, but there’s another cultural philosophy that also celebrates the art of inaction. It’s called wu wei, and its origins are in Asia rather than Europe. Though wu wei is a traditional Taoist ideology that might appear totally unrelated to modern life, it could be your secret weapon against 21st-century burnout and decision fatigue.
Fast facts
- What is wu wei? Put simply, wu wei can be translated as “non-doing” or taking effortless action.
- Where does it originate? China
- Related concepts: non-attachment in Buddhism, niksen in the Netherlands
First, a little background
Wu wei is a common philosophy in Chinese Taoist teachings and can be traced all the way back to the year 400 B.C. when it was mentioned in the text “Tao-te Ching.” Yet it’s still relevant in modern-day life, especially if you’re feeling burned out and run down.
When you practice wu wei, you stop fighting and start going with the flow. You choose the actions that demand minimal effort and accept some influence from life events and other people. In other words, you let go of control. If something consistently seems to not be working, you no longer try to force it. And rather than devising a rigid life plan, you take note of real-world conditions and allow yourself to respond accordingly. After all, change is always taking place, whether you act or not. Wu wei acknowledges this and embraces the fact that you alone don’t have to be responsible for creating shifts.
How wu wei can help you deal with burnout
The concept of wu wei doesn’t suggest that you never do anything at all. Instead, it encourages you to choose your battles wisely. When you channel wu wei, you think before you speak or make a move. This gives you time to decide if something really requires action at all. Then, if you do proceed, you’ll have more energy than if you regularly and swiftly act on every situation or problem that arises.
Preserving your supply of energy this way is one reason that wu wei could be the solution to burnout. It’s true that an ancient Chinese philosophy isn’t enough to fix a toxic workplace, relationship woes, and personal admin overwhelm. However, it can help you identify the areas of your life that require less energy than you’re giving.
Wu wei can also come in handy if you feel like you’re constantly going against the grain, another habit that can lead to burnout. The concept is all about doing what requires the least amount of effort and immersing yourself in activities that come easily to you. No, this doesn’t mean quitting your job in favor of scrolling TikTok in your pajamas all day. But it does mean, for instance, choosing a job that utilizes your natural talents and interests or finding hobbies that allow you to enter a relaxing flow state.
Realistic ways to practice wu wei
Doing less might not seem like a realistic solution to your struggles, but there are plenty of practical ways to apply wu wei to your daily life — no matter how chaotic it may be. Here are a few examples to help you start tackling burnout and overwhelm:
- Use your natural talents and abilities to your advantage when possible. For duties that you just can’t seem to master, outsource (such as delegating at work or hiring help) where you can.
- Keep plans loose and flexible. Instead of crafting a detailed five-year plan, look at just the next year, for instance. Leave room for change and spontaneity.
- Don’t try to change people. Coercing others, besides being a pretty unhealthy behavior in relationships, is also the antithesis of wu wei.
- Pause before making a big change or accepting a new responsibility. Take time in that phase of uncertainty. Though there may be times when you don’t need to act at all, according to wu wei, when you do move, it should be deliberate, not frantic.
- Tune into your inner feelings through journaling or another reflective exercise. If you notice that you constantly feel drained or dull, you’re probably not in wu wei.
- Remove one thing from your to-do list each day. Though it might feel stressful at first, it can help you realize that not everything demands your immediate attention.
- When a problem arises, before taking action, ask yourself how catastrophic the issue might actually be after one month, one year, or five years. If it likely won’t cause a significant long-term impact, it may not be necessary to take action at all.