An Idle Mind is the Devil's Workshop

The above adage is not from the Bible. But it's good advice nonetheless.

This adage goes way back—and there are many variations. Here's some of what I found on the internet.

The idle bodie and the idle braine is the shoppe [workshop] of the deuill.
[W. Perkins Works (1603)]

An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
[H. G. Bohn, "Hand-Book of Proverbs," 1855]

Steady employment‥ keeps one out of mischief, for truly an idle brain is the devil's workshop.
[1859 S. Smiles Self-Help viii.]

Tell him to be [a] good boy and study hard. An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
[1930 E. D. Biggers Charlie Chan Carries On xxii.]

Young people need to learn to work. Their parents must not let them be idle all summer for, as they say, idle hands are the devil's workshop.
[2001 Washington Times 3 Sept. A12]

If the Devil finds a Man idle, he'll set him at Work.
[J. Kelly, _Scottish Proverbs_, 1721]

The Turks have a proverb, which says, that _The devil tempts all other men, but that idle men tempt the devil.
[Colton, _Lacon_, 1820]

Staying busy and productively occupied should be a basic tenet of mental health care. But it is not. Virtually everywhere I have come into contact with the mental health population, these individuals have way too much time on their hands—and their mental health suffers as a result.

It is very difficult to keep your mind off of negatives when you have a lot of time to think. And not much to do.

So, find a way to stay busy. Set goals—even small goals—and accomplish them. Keep your mind occupied. If you're doing manual labor alone, listen to the radio etc. Or just pray.

You will make progress faster if you don't have too much time to think.

Remember: "An idle mind is the devil's workshop."

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