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The Importance of Doing Nothing: Art of Relaxation
By
Rachelle Williams
“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.” –Lao TzuA visit to Italy will soon have you embracing the concept of dolce far niente or “sweetness of doing nothing.” It does not mean being lazy; instead, it’s the idea of finding pleasure in idleness or relaxation. It is the ability to savor an experience, relishing the feeling of wholeness as it fills what is empty. This is a different sort of doing nothing, much more than laying around and wasting time. It offers the opportunity to be in the moment in whatever way you choose and, in the process, improve your life in surprising ways.
Think about the last time you did something only because it pleased you, not because it was expected. This is what makes it so sweet, and such a gift. Society has shifted toward prioritizing hyper-productivity, making the notion of doing nothing seem unproductive and inefficient. If there is time left unfilled during the day, there is an urge to fill it with something. It’s no wonder people have such a hard time relaxing and enjoying moments of nothingness.
If the idea of spending time relaxing and doing nothing is uncomfortable, you are not alone. This is a skill you may have lost touch with but can be reacquired with a bit of practice. The potential is there within you (you had it as a kid) so give yourself permission to at least give it a try.
The Deeper Meaning
For Italians, dolce far niente is a part of everyday life, and they do it well. It is observed in families taking a stroll together, sipping wine with friends at a café, enjoying good coffee, and watching the passersby. Noticeably, there is a feeling of presence and truly enjoying the moment as it is. It is simple and pure. Doing nothing can be an event in itself!
It serves an important purpose as well, probably unwittingly to most, in that it provides a sense of connection, not only to each other but with yourself. As a result, you end up gaining greater clarity about what is important to you at your core. This is a stimulating, always on-the-go society and it has become the default form of living, especially in the West. There is so much pressure to perform and meet expectations, creating a treadmill of stressful activity day after day.
Somewhere along the way society gave up on notions such as relaxation, idleness, and living in the moment as an important part of daily life. Having periods of time with little activity has always been a part of life and was assuredly accepted and enjoyed by your ancestors in a way that has been long forgotten. It never had to be defined, until now. It is easy to be consumed by should’s and must’s. It is easy to forget some of your most basic needs and, along with them, the most basic ways of fulfilling them.
The Importance of RelaxationWith the mindfulness movement, the notion of dolce far niente isn’t as far-fetched as you may have thought. There is something to be said about sitting down and pressing pause on your life from time to time, giving yourself space to take a deep breath and simply be. Mindfulness practices such as
meditation,
yoga, or nature walks create the space to not only experience—but recognize—life’s sweet moments. The turbulence you and many others feel within can be likened to mud that has been stirred so much it’s hard to see through to what is possible, but it can be settled during moments of quiet.
Start to think of your time spent in solitude or engaging in a relaxing activity as an investment in your health, longevity, and well-being. The belief of not having enough time in the day is a myth that can be unraveled. Everyone has the same amount of time in a day; start to be aware of what consumes your time.
Contrary to what you might think, being too busy can be counterproductive. Think of a washing machine that is crammed with too many clothes. Not much actual washing takes place because there is not enough space to move and churn. This same concept applies to life in general; you can use a little more space to help connect to the pulse of life and enjoy the pleasures it has to offer, no matter how small.
Here are a few of the benefits you may experience from incorporating more relaxing or pleasurable “doing nothing” moments into your days: Restorative—both mentally and physically
Grounding
Improves relationships
Relieves stress
More productive
Connects you with your intuition
Boosts creativity
Allows time for reflection
Helps to process ideas and information
The Art of Relaxation
Initially, trying to sit down and relax can be overwhelming—like opening the floodgates. Your nervous system may have been over-stimulated for so long that it might have a hard time recalibrating and adjusting to this newfound activity. You can’t expect to be going a mile a minute and then be able to stop without allowing some transition time. Be gentle on yourself and patient and start by doing small nothings at first. You may need to give your body and mind a little time to adjust and learn the importance of doing nothing.
Quick Practice Exercise
Set aside 5–10 minutes of time at home or someplace quiet where you feel calm and comfortable. Turn off all distractions and let people know not to disturb you. Try placing your phone in a different room from the one you are in as this is a powerful distraction.
Now, close your eyes—or you can choose not to, do what feels comfortable—and then simply do nothing, whatever that means to you. The idea is that if someone were to call and ask what you were up to in that moment, you would say, legitimately, “nothing.”
After 5–10 minutes, stop and observe how you feel. Was it uncomfortable? Was it relaxing? There will be many feelings and thoughts that arise, just observe them all without judgment. This is a starting point to help you test the waters and begin tapping into your inner world where your needs and desires lie. You will find it requires a bit of practice at first. Try doing this each day for a couple weeks, put it in your calendar, and see how it evolves and what begins to emerge.
There are many ways to engage in idle activity; it’s an art that you will refine over time. If you need some ideas here are some creative ways to spend time enjoying the sweetness of doing nothing:
- Take an epsom salt bath.
- Disconnect from technology for a day.
- Read a good book.
- Perform breathing exercises.
- Have a day of rest.
- Watch your children play.
- Take time to smell the roses (of course!).
- Discover your inner artist.
- Give someone a hug.
- Take an afternoon nap.
- Watch the sunset or stare at the stars at night.
- Have dinner with a dear friend or loved one.
- Enjoy your food.
- Take a walk in nature.
- Meditate.
The options are endless. You might look at this list and think you are not necessarily doing nothing, you are always doing something. Remember, the idea is to find pleasure in moments of idleness or relaxation. Enjoy those moments where you heart is full and you feel lighter as your burdens are uplifted, even if it’s just during that time. You are giving yourself the space to think and feel deeply in a way that can’t happen when consumed by the busyness of your daily activities.
You don’t need to go to Italy to experience dolce far niente. It’s time to relax and reclaim that part of yourself. You were given the ability to feel and experience life in a complicated, often messy, but always beautiful way. Take advantage of the gift of pure pleasure you were given—life is short! What will you do today to start re-discovering the sweetness of doing nothing?
Ready to start flowing with the Universe, instead of against it? Learn a natural, effortless style of meditation that helps make every day feel easy, fresh, and fulfilling with Basics of Meditation, a self-paced online course guided by Deepak Chopra.
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