The benefits of doing nothing ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Some animals evolved to do nothing. And if it’s good enough for animals, would being lazy work for humans too? That’s what Beth and Neil talk about as they teach you some useful vocabulary.
❓❓❓This week's question
What is the slowest moving animal on earth?
a) the giant tortoise
b) the three-toed sloth
c) the koala
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
✔️kick back
stop doing things and relax completely
✔️industrious
hard-working
✔️colony
group of certain animals, birds or insects that live together
✔️productive
able to produce a lot for the amount of resources used
✔️necessity is the mother of invention
(idiom) meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it
✔️switch off
stop worrying or thinking about something, and relax
[Cover: Getty Images]
You can download audio and text here 👉
www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish...
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#learnenglish #bbclearningenglish #lazy #ants

[@lka8735]

0:26 kick back 0:33 be as busy as a bee 0:36 worker bees 0:41 be always on the move 0:55 evolve 1:13 work up 1:18 to louch around 1:32 three-toed sloth 2:01 motionless 2:19 ant colonies 2:24 5:25 industriousness 3:03 step in 3:55 stimulation 3:56 switch off 4:25 proverb 5:12 algae, coats 5:42 nessesity is the mother of invention

[@NetoGnomik]

УПА я 75

[@kaylecarter9052]

We always agree and understand what you say, you don't have to write too long, do not worry ❤

[@kaylecarter9052]

Maybe you will be upset 😡, sorry. But fun ❤❤❤❤

[@nethulthathsarabro9234]

Thank you so much for the highlights 😁

[@user-sx3ok5nj5l]

thank you for spending your time highlighting the new words!💌

[@trangdieu.18c]

VOCABULARY FROM VIDEO “The benefits of doing nothing” 1. Exhausted: extremely tired 2. Be (as) busy as a bee: to be moving about quickly doing many things 3. Colony: a country or area controlled politically by a more powerful country that is often far away 4. Paradox: a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics 5. Algae: very simple, usually small plants that grow in or near water and do not have ordinary leaves or roots 6. Kick back: stop doing things and relax completely 7. Industrious: hard-working 8. Colony: group of certain animals, birds or insects that live together 9. Productive: able to produce a lot for the amount of resources used 10. Necessity is the mother of invention: (idiom) meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it 11. Switch off: stop worrying or thinking about something, and relax 17.06.2023 VIETNAM ALL THE BEST FOR YOU

[@nguyentrungkien910]

many thanks!

[@kenzoko6534]

tysm

[@lolakurambayeva]

Thanks dearr❤

[@uchoang9482]

hi, i'm from vietnam too

[@huyspinthepen]

I From Vietnam too

[@phyusinzaw15_]

Thank you.I love doing nothing.

[@BigSmoke-dn1ef]

me too bro

[@Jen-912]

Me too

[@hkkim9181]

Yes but I think you did something

[@phyusinzaw15_]

@@hkkim9181 😀😁😅

[@active8370]

😂😂😂

[@user-dt9rw3pd7t]

It has been more than 1 week since I sit a high school graduation exam. That's unforgettable memories cuz I almost bury in letters, numbers, vocabulary, formulation....even be burnt out and gave up my dream. But having finished the final test, I realize wow, I can be industrious more than I think. And now, I am enjoying my rest days, kicking back but sometimes have butterflies in my stomach cuz I can't stop switching off about my upcoming results. Now for me, everyday is Sunday

[@ShahnajSultana-vr3ld]

Thank you BBC for providing such a lovely information. I would like to do nothing in order to switch off.

[@heytoj]

Hello! I've created a set of IELTS Listening practice questions based on the news transcript. I encourage you to try them out to enhance your English listening comprehension skills. 1. Multiple Choice: What did Neil say he had done during his day? a) Attended meetings and went shopping b) Attended meetings, went shopping, and picked up the kids from school c) Stayed at home relaxing​ 2. True/False/Not Given: According to the speaker, most animals spend most of the time doing nothing at all.​ 3. Short Answer Question: Why, according to the speaker, do some animals spend a lot of time doing nothing?​ 4. Multiple Choice: What is the name of the animal that sleeps up to 20 hours a day according to the discussion? a) The rock ant b) The giant tortoise c) The lion​ 5. Short Answer Question: What animal is being studied by Professor Dan Charbonneau? 6. True/False/Not Given: According to Professor Dan Charbonneau, about half the ants in a colony are inactive at any given time. 7. Multiple Choice: What is one theory as to why some ants in a colony are inactive? a) They are lazy b) They are reserve ants c) They are injured​ 8. Sentence Completion: Dr. Sandi Mann believes that productivity is _________ and boredom can lead to _________.​ 9. Multiple Choice: According to the discussion, what is the slowest moving animal on Earth? a) The giant tortoise b) The three-toed sloth c) The koala​ 10. Summary Completion Question: Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each space. The news discusses the concept of laziness in both animals and humans. The speaker mentions that many animals spend a significant portion of their time doing nothing, and that some species, like ants, have large portions of their populations remaining inactive. These inactive ants may serve as ____________ in case of disease or disaster. Professor Dan Charbonneau, who studies the behavior of ants, and Dr. Sandi Mann, a psychologist, provide their perspectives on the topic. Dr. Mann suggests that being ____________ is overrated, and that boredom can lead to ____________. She proposes that boredom might be the mother of invention, a twist on the familiar idiom that ____________ is the mother of invention. Answer: 1. b) Attended meetings, went shopping, and picked up the kids from school 2. True 3. Because finding food and shelter is hard work. 4. c) The lion 5. The rock ant. 6. True 7. b) They are reserve ants 8. overrated, inventions 9. b) The three-toed sloth 10. reserve ants, productive, inventions, necessity

[@zhangrose7151]

❤❤❤it is absolutely helpful!

[@viewmanatsaporn7249]

Thank you so muchhh

[@KonstantinEgorovSpb]

Man, you know the ropes👍

[@zahranur8410]

Thanks a million..the questions are really helpful for my students

[@kaylecarter9052]

​@@KonstantinEgorovSpb😂😂😂

[@nowdarius]

After working long hours, I felt exhausted, as busy as a bee in a bustling colony; however, I realized the paradox that even though I was drained, I found solace in the algae-green park, where I could kick back, appreciate nature, and switch off from the demands of the world. It reminded me that being industrious doesn't always mean being productive; sometimes, taking a break is a necessity, as it is said, "necessity is the mother of invention."

[@Liang-qd5pf]

very good sentence

[@monteio65]

Listening direct from Brazil. Thanks BBC from England and hugs for all.❤

[@LAURABUSTOS-mu5wt]

I love your podcasts, an effective way for learning english by mean of real facts.

[@ramizagasiyev7239]

Thank you for this useful video👍

[@andiniekaselmayanti8c-046]

Thank you BBC ❤❤❤❤

[@muslimahshare]

Thank you it was very helpful ❤

[@humeraejaz4377]

I love learning and knowing everything that I don't know.

[@davidnguyen9211]

Thank you for your video. This is so good for my vocab and also my knowledge as well

[@jorgenicolas6807]

i love this podcast

[@MohamedSonjohKallon-zy1me]

Thank you so much

[@Akin_DSP]

Perfect 👌

[@mohiraabdullaeva1882]

Thank you

[@MstruthvoiceKSA]

As a Teacher after very long school year, i am glad of having my short holiday and do nothing. I am really tired need relax.

[@ysbh228]

Thank you.

[@user-gp1fg7mo3k]

This channel is one of my best channels on KZbin.good job.❤

[@sofiakoutsouki1463]

😆 this was amazing!!! Thanks a lot!!🎉❤

[@dominicsoore8967]

Thanks for sharing I love it

[@HTANGSHWEI]

I really love it. i will be industrious at my study cause i was kicking back for long time .

[@purpledream1045]

It’s fascinating video!

[@MNQuotes786]

Good Learning

[@user-soon300]

this proogram very useful I increase my vocabulary by thes videos thanks ❤

[@shomelislam4426]

learning something new everyday

[@IELTS_8]

Thanks ❤

[@sasasalove1]

Thanks

[@tdmusic1306]

Thank you very much. Hard-Working with me. !!!!

[@smallworld1191]

When I was a student I had busy as a bee ,I have to be industrious to be productive and after Im graduated ,I become like a three toes sloth , I 'm kick back by completely don't do anything and relax ,but I didn't switch off so Im still worry and not relax #I make a practice to writing a passage from this podcast lesson

[@the-language-expert]

Amazing video!

[@zamzamfaten]

I used to hear English accent for long period of time when I started hearing British accent again it seems so strange...unfamiliar to my ears ...listening to all different accent is important to level up in the language ❤...Thank you for the 6 min 🎉

[@shakilaji5570]

Thanks alot.

[@tranghoangthi6337]

On Saturdays and Sundays I just spend most of my time sitting around, doing nothing, relaxing and kicking back. 😅

[@nazrilrommy9081]

i need this video, thank you

[@Anglais-facile]

I am a big fan of 6 mn English. best way to learn English.

[@user-zn4sv3el2l]

Such a good video. Honestly I don't work but I want to get a new job. Sometimes it's hard to not work for me. I do nothing and it makes me sad. It feels like I spend my time in a bad way. The reason why I do nothing is social medias like KZbin and Instagram. In my opinion we need to break down from social medias to be more active and positive. That's a bad habit and I want to destroy it. The reason why I get bored is social medias again. Thanks BBC😊👍

[@Spirogida]

The same. I have recently started to learn English

[@yu-chunchan4749]

Brilliant video 🎉

[@indrilestari8914]

thanks you

[@Brian-fo6ew]

The Diary of Ant Brian 2023/6/15 I tried to kick back and switch off, but I'm the most productive and industrious ant in my colony. Also, necessity is the mother of invention, so I shouldn't kick back or switch off.

[@phammaibaongoc6471]

so great

[@Huyn2912]

Vocabulary (8/7/23) 1. Be busy as a bee (a) 2. Be always on the move (a) 3. Motion (n) >< Motionless (n) 4. Industrious (a): hard-working 5. Kick back (phr v): to stop doing things and relax completely 6. Switch off (phr v): to stop worrying or thinking about something and get relaxed 7. Evolve (v): develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form

[@sumtrol]

good lesson

[@lyricsmusic8191]

I realy loved this channel , i was searching for English podcasts then i Found this amazing channel, i really wanna thank you for your efforts.

[@HARI-nm2iz]

Yes it is useful and helpful and learnable easily.

[@ss-jg4cj]

thank you wonderful contents. from south korea

[@valentinariosmesa7853]

It was a really good and inspirational video, we as a society tend to be so worry about being productive all the time that we forget the importance of switching off. Besides, taking a day off or even a moment to kick back can help us with our mental health and return to our activities with a fresh mind and more energy. Thanks so much for this outstanding content.

[@lifepets]

It is grate. Now I will stop blaming myself of lasyness. I spent my days as well as a man on your picture) I can't push myself to lern English, as resalt do many mistakes)

[@daydreaming5475]

My favorite topic

[@nizasiamehenry]

Great 😊

[@mariacamillapetroni3553]

I like so much this video thank you so much 😊🙏 Moreno let's chill together after long day 🥰😊🤭🤗

[@marjonatoshtemirova7794]

That's interesting. It happens to me actually 😄 Sometimes i have a high pressure to do smth. But at some time i don't have enough desire to do smth. It depends on the weather or mood i reckon🤷

[@huyenbui6399]

very interesting ❤

[@InceyWincey]

Not thinking about a problem is often the best way to think of a solution. When you forget a word, or something you need to do, does it come to you when you think really hard? Often it doesn’t. It comes to you ten minutes later after you have stopped thinking about it, and your subconscious decides to take over and solve the problem for you. Then as you are pottering about making yourself a cup of tea, on goes the lightbulb, and there is your answer. The famous Eureka moment did not happen when Archimedes was actively thinking about the problem he was trying to solve, but instead the answer came to him as he was relaxing in the bath.

[@justosotelomelian3821]

I would like be like a bee. Always studying and working on that I love.

[@bbclearningenglish]

You're as busy as a bee!

[@raihanasabrinnaaaaaaa]

Wow! it's a fact! Very nice video.

[@fazalrabijalalzay4519]

This topic was interesting

[@blackout4988]

You are the only one who talks about this topic: where i am they would never do it. :( They exploit you until your last breath!

[@nkknnkk3305]

Amazy video! I love doing nothing ☺️

[@5canwalk]

The kind of consolation I need🎉❤😂

[@MickySalvatore]

Being doing nothing help me realize how lucky i am all of my family members take advantage from me. And found myself got abused by elderly

[@realnlyp]

Patrick Star won an award for doing this so well.

[@princessmary8627]

WORDS FOR TODAY 1. BUSY AS BEE 2. KICKING BACK 3. INDUSTRIOUS 4. COLONY 5. NECESSITY ISNTHE MOTHER OF INVENTION 6. SWITCHING-OFF

[@sauthkatadaka]

Hi mary

[@sauthkatadaka]

@@princessmary8627 give me your contact or instagram id I think your so beautiful

[@ibraraahmadusaid2451]

I will try Productive

[@tranghoangthi6337]

I study at university. During weekdays, I am as busy as a bee as I have a lot of deadlines to meet. I have to say that I am not just industrious but a workaholic so switching off is sometimes really hard for me, even on weekends I find it hard for me to sit around, relax, and kick back.

[@furkaneren6381]

Good !

[@marahf3627]

Try to relax for 10 mintutes every day.

[@tindrakara]

I like this video podcast🤩

[@cyberdefender1859]

Vocabulary from the video 1) To kick back - to stop doing things and relax completely; 2) To switch off - to stop worrying or thinking about something and get relaxed; 3) The adjective industrious means hard-working; 4) Be as busy as a bee - to be very busy 5) Be always on the move - I think you'll guess the meaning of the phrase; 6) Evolve - develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form

[@cyberdefender1859]

I forgot to add the proverb from the video - necessity is the mother of invention. It means that if you need to do something, you'll definitely find a way to do it.

[@learnenglishgoplaces]

Nice summary of video vocab!

[@nimababaei3753]

When watching your videos, I accidentally hit ‘like’ and never knew when.🥰

[@locle4036]

very good content to me

[@user-lt1jk3uj8z]

After this episode I feel so much better when I do nothing 😅

[@thiyennhinguyen9839]

❤❤

[@russellhahaangelbeck]

Hello my dear friend! thank you for the cool video! I'll wait for new videos

[@tuanhtran8455]

I'm not industrious I've spent most of the time watching tiktok, doing nothing but thinking what i'm gonna eat tomorrow i've been trying to seek part-time job instead of sitting around but it really hard to me to find a suitable job

[@user-kv4lk4mc4n]

Thx for your sharing. I am doing nothing right now.

[@sabrinarashidova9796]

Like many people I am also adjusted to working hard as a bee and being always on move that's why it is a bit challenging for me to switch off and just kicking back though I want

[@bbclearningenglish]

Yes, when you are always busy, doing nothing is a bit of a challenge.

[@romanisayev4826]

Beth and Neil, you are great native spikers please continue together working

[@bbclearningenglish]

Thank you! Will do!

[@rahimbouziane8243]

👍

[@metaforamatador4490]

I hope you put subtitle at below screen!

[@kishan5481]

Switch off will always give you good health

[@shohibur3920]

Amazing title

[@irenefang246]

Thanks BBC My summary while listening When watching nature documentaries, we may think that animals are always on the move. But the surprising truth is that many animals spend a fair share of time doing nothing, away from cameras. Today's program will discuss why do animals evolve to be idle and would be lazy helpful for humans, too? It's no surprise that some animals have a reputation for lounging around all day such as lions. However, we may be amazed when finding out ants, a symbol of industriousness, even sit motionless at any given time. According to Professor Dan Charbonneau, an expert in insect behavior, half of the rock ants in their colonies just sit motionless and do nothing. They are called reserve ants that actually work when a disaster or a disease strikes. Turning to Dr Sandi Mann, she thinks being productive is overrated and boredom has its benefits, too. In the world of constant stimulation, it's almost impossible for us to stop swiping and scrolling, hoping for something big to come. Conversely, we should not fear boredom as it helps to kick back, switch off, and maybe slow down to take a moment to appreciate our lives.

[@sakarrahem4048]

Kick back😮😊

[@alexandrinobruno]

❤

[@getpaceai]

How do we do nothing AND master English Thanks for the great listening exercise BBC! What other English videos do you guys listen to?

[@notsonormalbut]

Yeah! Now I feel better about myself being so lazy at times 😂❤

[@kaylecarter9052]

Really? Then I guess you are the laziest person in the world. Tiredness do not come from laziness, but I think you should learn more to respect others, otherwise you will be great trouble in the future. Not only that, this is only for good people.

[@kaylecarter9052]

Again I think you should learn more respectful to yourself, do not be stupid

[@notsonormalbut]

@@kaylecarter9052 excuse me? Who are you to write bullshit about me? Talking about respect? Well, respect me first and if you don't like what I write just ignore me then.

[@jesusblancoblanco5725]

The benefits of doing nothing are absolutely amazing, but life would be so boring. Now we are going to switch off and kick back!

[@xiomarajudithquintana1274]

Hi from Colombia. I am finding out this programme, it is fantastic! Lets see...I want to switch off about my time in the company wher I work, and kicking back but I can't. I that ok?

[@bbclearningenglish]

That's good - we'd say 'kick back' rather than 'kicking back' in this sentence.

[@user-kw3cp9bw6g]

3:41

[@user-kw3cp9bw6g]

4:15

[@kaylecarter9052]

I love doing nothing as long as you are. Doing nothing is relaxing for me.

[@Idowu_Balogun]

Most people likes being busy, Sometimes, it's okay to be busy doing nothing!

[@user-kw3cp9bw6g]

1:42

[@user-kw3cp9bw6g]

2:43

[@ThuyBui-zy2nw]

Beth Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Beth. Neil And I’m Neil. Phew! I've spent all day in meetings, then shopping, then collecting the kids from school - I'm exhausted, Beth! What have you been doing today? Beth Oh, not much, just sitting around doing nothing… relaxing and kicking back! Neil Lucky you! Don’t you have work to do? Beth It may not look it, Neil, but I’m actually as busy as a bee! If you’ve seen nature documentaries about worker bees flying from flower to flower, you probably think animals are always on the move. But the surprising truth is, away from the cameras, most animals spend most of the time doing absolutely nothing at all. Neil In the natural world where finding food and shelter is hard work, why have some animals evolved to do nothing? And if it’s good enough for animals, would being lazy work for humans too? That’s what we will be discussing in this programme, and as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well. Beth But first, let me work up the energy to ask you a question, Neil. Of course, some animals have a reputation for lounging about - lions, for example, can sleep up to twenty hours a day! But what is the slowest moving animal on Earth? Is it: a) the giant tortoise b) the three-toed sloth or c) the koala? Neil Well, I think it’s the three-toed sloth. Beth OK, Neil. I’ll reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme. Now it’s no surprise that lazy lions love relaxing, but even animals with reputations for being busy spend time doing nothing. Look carefully into an ant's nest and you’ll see around half of them just sitting there motionless. Here’s Professor Dan Charbonneau, an expert in insect behaviour, discussing the lazy rock ant with Emily Knight, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Naturebang. Emily Knight Dan’s research has focused on ant colonies, a species called temnothorax rugatulus or the rock ant. Professor Dan Charbonneau I think ants are a symbol of industriousness, you know, they have this whole tiny little society going on that's kind of similar to ours… some idealised version what humans might be if we could only pull it together and all work together we could be as industrious as the ants, but then when you look at it, roughly about half the colony is inactive at any given time. Neil We think ants are industrious, or hard-working. Groups of ants, called colonies, seem tiny, perfect societies where everyone works hard for the good of the group. Beth Then why are so many of them inactive? One possible answer is that they’re reserve ants, ready to step in if disease or disaster strike. But could it simply be that they don’t work because they don’t need to. Would you get out of bed on Monday morning if you didn’t have to? Neil Maybe the ants can teach us a thing or two about relaxing. But wouldn't it get boring just sitting around all day? Beth Not according to psychologist, Dr Sandi Mann. She thinks being productive - working to produce a lot for the amount of resources we use, is overrated. Boredom has its benefits too, as she explains to BBC Radio 4 programme, Naturebang. Dr Sandi Mann Would humans have invented bread or beer or fire, you know, if we hadn't been bored and were wondering, ‘what on earth would happen if we mix this with this?’, you know. Are all these sorts of inventions the mother of boredom? Emily Knight But in this world of constant stimulation switching off is harder than it's ever been. Dr Sandi Mann That's why we're constantly swiping and scrolling and looking for the next big thing, and the new thing and we bored of things very quickly… so it's a kind of paradox to get rid of this unpleasant state of boredom is actually to allow more boredom into your life. Beth Dr Mann doubts humans would have invented things without the curiosity that comes from being bored. Boredom is the mother of invention, an idea based on the famous proverb, necessity is the mother of invention, an idiom meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it. Neil Instead of fearing boredom we can open up to its benefits by switching off - stopping worrying or thinking about something and relaxing. Slowing down helps too - something we can definitely learn from our animal cousins. Beth I think now’s a good time to reveal the answer to my question, since we have nothing else to do. Neil You asked me to name the world’s slowest animal and I guessed it was the three-toed sloth. Was I right? Beth That was the correct answer! With a top speed of 30 centimetres per minute, three-toed sloths move so slowly that algae grow on their coats! OK, let's recap the vocabulary that we've learned from this programme starting with the phrase kicking back - stop doing things and relax completely. Neil The adjective industrious means hard-working. Beth A colony is the name given to a group of certain animals including ants and some seabirds. Neil Someone who is productive is able to produce a lot for the amount of resources they use. Beth The proverb necessity is the mother of invention, means that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it. Neil And finally, to switch off means to stop worrying or thinking about something and relax. Once again, our six minutes are up - it must be time to sit down, close your eyes, and just do nothing! Goodbye for now! Beth Bye!

[@markgonsalves]

Who Else came here trying to find a reason to justify your procrastination?

[@soumayabenhassine7213]

I'll do it😁

[@thulinhpham9933]

It may not look it, Nail at 0:33 , what does it mean? Anyone help me?

[@konulyusifova6416]

Hello from Azerbaijan

[@angelinabars8024]

The title is really catching

[@_fai6664]

0:52