8 situations when the smartest thing you can do is absolutely nothing

Ever find yourself in the middle of an argument with your partner, frantically trying to defend your position, only to realize later that staying quiet would have saved you both a lot of grief?

I learned this lesson the hard way a few years back. My partner and I were having one of those heated discussions about something so trivial I can't even remember what it was about now. But in the moment, I felt this overwhelming urge to be right, to have the last word. Every time she spoke, I was already formulating my comeback, barely listening to what she was actually saying.

Then something shifted. Maybe it was exhaustion or a moment of clarity, but I just... stopped. I stopped talking, stopped defending, stopped trying to win. And in that silence, something magical happened. The tension deflated like a punctured balloon. We both took a breath, looked at each other, and started laughing at how ridiculous we were being.

That moment taught me something profound: sometimes doing absolutely nothing is the smartest move you can make.

We live in a world that glorifies action. Hustle culture tells us to always be moving, always be responding, always be doing something. But what if I told you that strategic inaction could be your secret weapon for a better life?

Here are eight situations where the smartest thing you can do is absolutely nothing.

1. When someone is trying to provoke you

You know that person at work who seems to thrive on pushing your buttons? Or that relative who always brings up politics at family dinners just to watch the fireworks?

Here's what I've discovered: not every provocation deserves a response. In fact, most don't.

When someone's clearly trying to get a rise out of you, doing nothing is like holding up a mirror to their behavior. Without your reaction to feed off, their provocations lose all their power. It's almost comical to watch someone try to start a fight when you simply won't engage.

I used to be the guy who'd take every bait, defend every position, argue every point. Growing up as the quieter brother, I thought I needed to prove myself whenever challenged.

But now? I've learned that silence can be the most powerful response of all.

The next time someone tries to drag you into unnecessary drama, try this: take a deep breath, maybe offer a slight smile, and change the subject or walk away. Watch how quickly they deflate when they realize you're not playing their game.

2. When you're angry and about to send that text

We've all been there. You're furious, your fingers are flying across the keyboard, crafting the perfect message that will show them exactly how wrong they are. Your thumb hovers over the send button...

Stop. Do nothing. Put the phone down.

I can't tell you how many times doing absolutely nothing in these moments has saved me from massive regret. Those angry texts we send in the heat of the moment? They're like permanent records of our worst selves.

In my book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I explore how Buddhist teachings emphasize the importance of the pause. That space between feeling and action is where wisdom lives.

Here's my rule: if I'm angry enough to write a scorching text, I'm too angry to send it. I write it out if I need to (sometimes just typing it helps), then I delete it and wait at least 24 hours. Nine times out of ten, I'm grateful I never sent it.

3. When the stock market is crashing

Remember March 2020? The markets were in free fall, everyone was panicking, and the urge to sell everything and run for the hills was overwhelming.

But here's what every successful investor knows: the worst thing you can do during a market crash is something. Anything, really.

Warren Buffett didn't become one of the richest people in the world by panic selling. He got there by doing nothing when everyone else was losing their minds. The data backs this up too. Studies consistently show that investors who do nothing during market downturns perform better than those who try to time the market.

Your emotions during a crash are your worst enemy. Fear makes you want to sell at the bottom. Greed makes you want to buy at the top. Doing nothing protects you from both.

4. When you don't have all the information

How often do we jump to conclusions based on incomplete information? Someone doesn't text back immediately, and we assume they're mad at us. A colleague gets promoted, and we assume it's favoritism.

Living in Vietnam taught me this lesson in spades. Things rarely go as planned here, and initial impressions are often completely wrong. That vendor who seemed rude? Maybe they were having a terrible day. That business deal that looked sketchy? Could turn out to be perfectly legitimate.

When you don't have the full picture, doing nothing beats making decisions based on assumptions every single time. Wait. Observe. Let more information come to light. The truth has a funny way of revealing itself when you're patient enough to let it.

5. When your child is having a meltdown

Since becoming a father to my daughter, I've discovered that sometimes the best parenting move is no move at all.

When she's in the middle of a full-blown meltdown, my instinct is to fix it immediately. Distract her, pick her up, offer solutions. But often, what she really needs is space to feel her feelings and work through them on her own.

This applies to all relationships, not just parenting. Sometimes people don't need us to solve their problems or offer advice. They just need us to be present while they figure things out themselves. Doing nothing, in these moments, is actually doing everything.

6. When you're stuck on a problem

Ever notice how your best ideas come in the shower or right before you fall asleep? There's a reason for that.

When you stop actively trying to solve a problem, your subconscious mind takes over. This is called the incubation period, and it's when real creative breakthroughs happen.

In Buddhism, there's a concept called "effortless effort" that I explore in my book. It's about knowing when to push and when to let go. Sometimes the harder you try to force a solution, the more elusive it becomes.

The next time you're stuck, try doing absolutely nothing about it for a while. Go for a walk, take a nap, work on something completely different. You might be amazed at how the answer appears when you stop looking for it.

7. When someone is venting to you

This one took me years to learn. When someone comes to you with their problems, your first instinct might be to offer solutions, give advice, or share your own similar experience.

But often, the smartest thing you can do is absolutely nothing except listen.

Growing up as the quieter brother, I naturally observed more than I spoke. But even I had to learn that listening means truly doing nothing else. Not formulating responses, not waiting for your turn to talk, not trying to fix anything. Just listening.

Most of the time, people don't want your advice. They want to be heard. They want to process their thoughts out loud with someone who cares. Your silence gives them the space to do exactly that.

8. When you first wake up

This might be the most practical tip on this list. When your alarm goes off, what's the first thing you do? If you're like most people, you immediately reach for your phone.

But what if you did nothing instead?

Just lie there for five minutes. Let your mind wake up naturally. Notice how you feel, what you're thinking about, what your body needs. This simple act of doing nothing sets a completely different tone for your entire day.

Since I started this practice, applying the Buddhist concept of impermanence to my mornings, I've noticed I'm less reactive throughout the day. That flood of notifications and emails can wait five minutes. The world won't end if you don't immediately jump into action mode.

Final words

In a world that's constantly telling us to do more, be more, achieve more, there's something quietly revolutionary about doing nothing.

It's not about being lazy or passive. It's about being strategic with your energy and attention. It's about recognizing that not every situation requires your input, not every problem needs your solution, and not every moment needs to be filled with action.

The ability to do nothing when everyone else is doing something? That's a superpower in disguise. It's the pause that prevents regret, the silence that speaks volumes, the stillness that leads to clarity.

So the next time you feel that urgent need to act, to respond, to do something, ask yourself: what would happen if I did absolutely nothing instead?

You might be surprised to find it's exactly what the situation needs.