Relax, Don't Do It!

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." — Anne Lamott

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Dear Investors & Friends:

Welcome to this week’s SundayReads.

Yesterday I had my six-monthly review with Subodh and our FCEO team wherein I mentioned that I wanted to explore a four-day work week. I had recently come across the Italian term il dolce far niente, which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” ?It struck me how much we undervalue that concept. In fact, while preparing my feline calendar, I consciously set aside only four working days each week. I wanted to start building the habit of doing less on one weekday or keeping it as a standby—time to slow down, reflect, or simply relax.

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In a world obsessed with productivity, the very idea of wasting time can feel almost wrong. Everywhere we look, books and publications are filled with advice on how to improve efficiency, stop wasting time, and squeeze more into every hour. We live in a society where long work weeks are a badge of honour, and taking time for yourself often provokes guilt. Yet, some of the greatest minds in history, like Archimedes, knew that breakthroughs often come during moments of rest. His famous "Eureka!" moment happened while relaxing in a bath.

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When I mentioned the four-day week, it wasn’t just about finding more work-life balance. It was about creating space for idle moments—moments that often lead to unexpected insights. Taking long walks, listening to music without multitasking, or even chopping vegetables slowly can feel like unproductive time. But it’s during these periods of rest that our minds recharge and often solve the problems we’ve been grappling with in the background. Brain rest helps us reset.

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Imagine staring out of the window, lost in thought, or meditating for just five minutes. It may seem like doing nothing, but your mind is working quietly in the background. Constant productivity is exhausting, both physically and mentally. Without real breaks, we risk burnout, and our creativity dries up. This is why allowing ourselves time to “do nothing” is essential. It’s during these quiet moments that ideas have space to emerge, much like Archimedes’ discovery in his peaceful bath.

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Some of the most innovative ideas don’t come from intense work sessions, but from stepping away. Google famously allowed employees to spend 20% of their time on projects with no immediate pay-off. Gmail and Google News, now key products, came from this practice. It shows that wasting time, or at least giving yourself freedom from strict tasks, can fuel creativity and innovation.

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So, what does “wasting time” look like? It could be taking a slow bath, sipping tea, reading a fun novel, or watering plants. These activities don’t have an obvious purpose, but they create mental space. They allow us to reset and come back to our tasks refreshed.

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At the end of the day, we need time to recharge, reflect, and reset. Taking time to “waste” a few moments isn’t a sign of laziness—it’s an act of self-care and creativity. Just as fields need to rest before the next harvest, we too need moments of stillness to grow.

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When I do start to feel that stress, I just sit down and start to waste time. The next time you catch yourself staring out of the window or enjoying a leisurely cup of tea, embrace it. You might just be on the brink of your own “Eureka” moment.

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This Sunday, relax, rest and reset.

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Until the next week, Ciao.

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Warm Regards

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Kavita Bothra

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Helping you think thoughts you may not have thought before.