--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm not busy I start twiddling my…" description: "\"If I'm not busy I start twiddling my thumbs.\" — John Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png" --- # If I'm not busy I start twiddling my thumbs. ![“If I'm not busy I start twiddling my thumbs.” quote by John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png) > “If I'm not busy I start twiddling my thumbs.” [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When idle, the person resorts to nervous habits, highlighting the need for purposeful activity to avoid boredom. **In simple terms:** Idle time leads to fidgeting. Key Takeaway Find engaging tasks when free. Themes boredom habit productivity Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - waiting rooms - commutes - downtime Key Concepts self‑regulation mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn idle time into productive moments? - What activities satisfy your need for movement? A Different Perspective Some idle moments can spark creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Start Twiddling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-twiddling-4761152/) [Thumbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thumbs/) [Twiddling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twiddling-500330/) [Twiddling Thumbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twiddling-thumbs-500328/) ## Related quotes > [I have had my share of twiddling my thumbs while sitting idle at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/i-have-had-my-share-of-twiddling-my-thumbs-while-sitting-idle-at-home/) [Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/) > [“We haven't remained idle, twiddling our thumbs while you were off having a good time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/we-haven-t-remained-idle-twiddling-our-thumbs-while-you-were-off-2/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [I love talking to people, but what I really love is to feel you're doing something instead of sitting home and twiddling your thumbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-love-talking-to-people-but-what-i-really-love-is-to-feel-you-re/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I always rate a convention by the lack of blisters from twiddling my thumbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-perez/i-always-rate-a-convention-by-the-lack-of-blisters-from-twiddling-my/) [George Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-perez/) > [Computers have their own aleatoric aspect, too. They crash! But I'm a knob person. I like twiddling knobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-parkins/computers-have-their-own-aleatoric-aspect-too-they-crash-but-i-m-a/) [Zeena Parkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-parkins/) > [A good rule of thumb for many things in life holds that things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/a-good-rule-of-thumb-for-many-things-in-life-holds-that-things-take/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [I’m neither ‘pro-women’ nor ‘anti-men’. I’m just ‘Thumbs up for the six billion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-m-neither-pro-women-nor-anti-men-i-m-just-thumbs-up-for-the-six/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [As a rule of thumb, I would submit that if you need to call your floss provider, for any reason, you are probably not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/as-a-rule-of-thumb-i-would-submit-that-if-you-need-to-call-your-floss/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [But to admire a strong person and to live under that strong person’s thumb are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/but-to-admire-a-strong-person-and-to-live-under-that-strong-person-s/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [There's a good case to be made that having fun is a key evolutionary advantage right next to opposable thumbs in terms of importance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raph-koster/there-s-a-good-case-to-be-made-that-having-fun-is-a-key-evolutionary/) [Raph Koster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raph-koster/) > [Tell them you came, and saw, and looked into my eyes and saw the shadow of the guard receding. Thoughts in time and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/tell-them-you-came-and-saw-and-looked-into-my-eyes-and-saw-the-shadow/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [Too much under the thumb of the Iranians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/too-much-under-the-thumb-of-the-iranians/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. Then I tasted baby food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-always-wondered-why-babies-spend-so-much-time-sucking-their-thumbs/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) ## More by John Newman > [ Doctors can predict these things \[tumors\] just as long as they get access to people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/doctors-can-predict-these-things-tumors-just-as-long-as-they-get/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I don't get pictures taken of me when I leave clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-don-t-get-pictures-taken-of-me-when-i-leave-clubs/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I don't want to date celebrities, I don't want to roll out of clubs absolutely steaming, make an idiot out of myself. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-don-t-want-to-date-celebrities-i-don-t-want-to-roll-out-of-clubs/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [Reports in matters of this world are many, and our resources of mind for the discrimination of them very insufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/reports-in-matters-of-this-world-are-many-and-our-resources-of-mind/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I think the main reason for staying positive is because if I walk out this door and get hit by a car and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-think-the-main-reason-for-staying-positive-is-because-if-i-walk-out/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I'm really creating abstract shapes and relationships that work together. They come together and give the illusion of reality, but they're really abstract shapes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-m-really-creating-abstract-shapes-and-relationships-that-work/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I do like expressing how I feel about things in my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-do-like-expressing-how-i-feel-about-things-in-my-music/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [Living movements do not come out of committees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/living-movements-do-not-come-out-of-committees/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I went and studied music in Leeds. It really woke me up socially, to stop being so naïve and narrow-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-went-and-studied-music-in-leeds-it-really-woke-me-up-socially-to/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I feel like awareness needs to grow. It's becoming a very common thing. I think we have a very strong NHS and healthcare system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-feel-like-awareness-needs-to-grow-it-s-becoming-a-very-common-thing/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [If we can afford it, I personally think we should keep giving people MRIs a lot, so we can spot everything early. Our taxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/if-we-can-afford-it-i-personally-think-we-should-keep-giving-people/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [People keep comparing me to people, and I just ignore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/people-keep-comparing-me-to-people-and-i-just-ignore-it/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I was a big rugby player and into my motocross, so I lost loads of weight and a rumor went around the town that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-was-a-big-rugby-player-and-into-my-motocross-so-i-lost-loads-of/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [ Now I've got that \[life is a journey not a destination\] tattooed on my arm because it just reminds me of that time, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/now-i-ve-got-that-life-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-tattooed-on-my/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [Once I started working, it became better and better. I really felt that I was back into the work. I was glad I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/once-i-started-working-it-became-better-and-better-i-really-felt-that/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) [Explore all 27 John Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) [Victoria Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-derbyshire/) > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) [The Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/) [Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I'm not busy I start twiddling my thumbs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Newman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thumbs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thumbs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-newman-22478_busy_if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thu_3000489.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I'm not busy I start twiddling my thumbs.” — John Newman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Newman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I'm not busy I start...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thumbs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/if-i-m-not-busy-i-start-twiddling-my-thumbs/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```