The Cost of Doing Nothing
And also why it might be the best thing you can do.
“So... should I be doing something about this?”
It’s the question I get asked more than any other when someone’s not feeling quite right. Their shoulder aches. Their blood pressure’s rising. Their sleep is sketchy. Or maybe they’ve Googled themselves into a diagnostic frenzy and now believe the root cause of their fatigue is either mold exposure, a nutrient deficiency, or the ancient curse of their great-great-grandmother.
And my answer?
“Well... maybe. But also maybe not. It depends.”
(Not the satisfying, “yes, take this magic pill” answer they wanted. But hang with me.)
Doing Nothing Feels Wrong… But Isn’t Always
Let’s be honest: we are a do-something culture. We chase causes. We demand solutions. We don’t like feeling uncomfortable in our bodies or uncertain in our decisions, so we act fast—grabbing a supplement, starting a protocol, or binge-watching YouTube videos of health influencers who haven’t eaten gluten since 2009.
We want to fix it, and we want to fix it now because doing nothing feels lazy, scary, or like giving up or not doing our best.
But that’s not true. Doing nothing is not the same as giving up.
There’s a difference between avoidance and strategy. Sometimes, doing nothing is the smartest thing you can do—if it's the right kind of nothing.
Strategic Inaction: The Health Move No One Talks About
Think of it this way: your body is a biological genius. It’s trying to heal. It’s adapting, recalibrating, and responding to inputs.
When we rush in with a million variables—five new supplements, three health podcasts that tell you to meditate, journal, jump up and down 50 times a day, and stretch 30 minutes before you go to bed, and a “detox smoothie” that tastes like frustration—we can actually interrupt that process.
That’s why I’m a fan of what I call strategic inaction. It’s the conscious pause, or the hold, the moment when you step back, simplify, and give your body a fighting chance to do what it does best, and that’s heal.
It’s knowing when to act... and when to chill. (Cue Kenny Rogers: You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em…)
The Root Cause Rabbit Hole
Now, don’t get me wrong—I love a good health mystery. I’m a sucker for figuring out why the body does what it does. But sometimes your body doesn’t care what the root cause is. It just wants support. Not a spotlight. Sometimes, when we define the mystery cause, although relieved it has a name, we’re now focused on the disease, not the healing. Then we start to see what’s wrong with our health, not how to support it. Can you see the difference?
Take me, for example. I could spend years digging into whether my joint issues are due to connective tissue quirks, bone structure, or being part flamingo. But at some point, the more helpful question becomes: Now what?
Do I chase the diagnosis for years, or do I work with what I’ve got—nourish my body, strengthen what’s strong, support what’s weak, and focus on the Core 4 (nutrition, movement, sleep, and hydration)?
I almost always lean into the Core 4 before trying anything else. Because that’s not doing nothing. That’s doing something with strategy.
The Real Cost of Doing Nothing
Let’s flip the script.
Doing nothing out of avoidance is another issue. That’s costly. Symptoms can worsen. Opportunities for early course-correction slip by. You end up in reaction mode instead of prevention mode.
But doing nothing out of wisdom? Out of respect for your body’s timeline? Out of clarity that now isn’t the time to jump into another intervention, but rather to anchor your foundation first? That’s a powerful move.
When It’s Time to Act, Be Strategic
Of course, there is a time to act. But not all actions are created equal. You want to choose ones that match your health goals, fit your lifestyle, and actually move the needle.
That’s why I wrote my new book, Health Shift: Your Personalized Guide to Making Strategic Health Decisions. It’s not just another “do this, not that” guide. It walks you through the process of how to think about your health—when to wait, when to act, and how to tell the difference between a healing detour and a dead-end rabbit trail.
Don’t be surprised to find that it’s simpler than you think. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next with your health, this book is like working it through with your best friend, just like this.
Bottom Line
So, should you do something about your health?
Maybe. But let’s first define what counts as something.
Sometimes, slowing down is the wisest action.
Sometimes, sleeping more is a better move than supplements.
And sometimes, building your Core 4 before you chase the fix… is the fix.
And if you need help figuring that out, I know a book that can help. 😉
Dr. Alice
The book launch is this weekend! I would love to see you there!
Details can be found right here.
A little more about Dr. Alice Burron and Strategic Action Health:
Dr. Burron is a co-founder of Strategic Action Health, dedicated to helping organizations help their employees make better health decisions. Come check us out here!
Catch us on Instagram: @the.health.navigator and @dr_burron
You can also connect on LinkedIn, if you want to be professional about it. 👓
And if you’re not subscribed to Health Shift here on Substack — it’s time! This free newsletter is packed with valuable information and approaches to help you on your journey to better, faster healing.
Health Shift: Your Strategic Guide to Making Strategic Health Decisions book will officially launch on May 17, 2025! Mark your calendars! And if you’re in Cheyenne, join us for our party at Blacktooth Brewery. Have a beer on us!