We have all heard this old saying since childhood: “An empty mind is the devil’s house.”

There is no doubt in it, as people who are idle often waste their time on negative activities, since they lack a routine or purpose. This can lead to laziness, hindering personal growth and self-improvement. To alleviate boredom, they may seek validation from others, form unhealthy friendships, or get caught up in bad company, which can ultimately prove detrimental to their well-being.

Idle individuals often become overly available and end up losing their worth in everyone’s eyes. Their minds are plagued by negative thoughts and excessive overthinking, leading to anxiety, stress and a loss of peace of mind. On the other hand, people who are busy don’t have enough time to overthink, as they are too tied up with their work. A busy routine keeps negative thoughts away, and this is what helps them stay more focused and positive.

Being busy signals that you value your time, treating every second as precious. This, in turn, encourages others to respect your time and see it as valuable too. Have you ever seen a successful person lounging and sitting idly? I haven’t. Because achieving success requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone. According to reports, Mark Zuckerberg makes hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour, whereas we waste so many hours just scrolling on social media, and all we get out of it is spectacles! Sadly, yes.

If we utilise our time on productive things, we can achieve a lot because successful people are also created by the same God who created us, and they have the same potential as we do, and who knows if we have more! So the only difference lies in how we choose to utilise our time.

To be busy is simply not enough, yes, what one needs to do is to occupy themselves in fruitful activities that lead to some sort of achievements. This can be in the form of healthy and productive activities, such as going to a gym, learning swimming, engaging in sports-related activities, reading, joining any course that polish your grey cells and even gardening.

There are now numerous online courses available, and you can even take international courses from the comfort of your home. Top universities worldwide now offer online courses. Students can also do part time jobs alongside their studies. You can start an online business or explore online job opportunities, which is especially beneficial for females who may not be allowed to go out. This way they can be independent and being independent is crucial for every individual, as it boosts your confidence in your abilities, allowing you to fulfil your desires on your own. When you earn and fulfil your wishes through your own earnings, you will realise that it has given you a tremendous sense of accomplishment — and a feeling that has no match.

It’s just a matter of taking the first step on this path, and once you start achieving, the motivation to grow further comes naturally. At first, it might seem challenging when responsibilities suddenly pile up, and you might wonder if you have made a mistake by stepping out of your comfort zone. Just like climbing a mountain can be tough, but the view from the top is breathtakingly beautiful; in the same way, leaving your comfort zone can be difficult, but when the reward comes, all the hard work pays off.

The purpose of life is not just to eat, drink and sleep, as that would make humans no different from animals, who also just eat, drink and sleep. God has sent us to this world as the noblest of creations, we should reflect that in our actions and behaviours. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when the world was under lockdown, wise people utilised their time by starting online businesses, learning new things and doing online courses.

Youtubers also experienced the most growth during this time. On the other hand, some people wasted their time sleeping and being idle at home. Thus they started venting their frustrations on others, criticising each other’s efforts, ultimately leading to increased conflict and a surge in domestic arguments.

Because when you are free and have nothing important to do, you start noticing small things about other people and getting irritated by that. Understandably, nobody is perfect and everyone has some flaws. If you keep pointing out these small things and criticising, the other person will start feeling suffocated and begin defending themselves, leading to arguments and strained relationships. Therefore, a busy person who is occupied all day will come home exhausted and spend quality time with their family, sharing their day with them. They will be too tired to notice insignificant things to get upset about and having had a productive day, their sense of fulfilment leaves little room for harbouring any negativity.

Lastly, discipline is crucial in life as it makes us civilised and teaches us the importance of time. Since time never turns back, invest your time in positive activities. Amidst your busy routine, make sure to allocate time for loved ones, self-care and health, because these are equally vital. Engage yourself in productive activities to the point where there is no room for unnecessary thoughts or negative activities. Believe me, this will bring tranquillity to your life, and you will be unstoppable on your path to success.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 28th, 2025