Dolce Far Niente
Dolce Far Niente is an Italian phrase which means "the sweetness of doing nothing".
But it is more than just a phrase, it is ingrained in their culture- it is part of their everyday lives.
A beautiful woman dressed in her finery, unwinding in lavish scenery, gazing at a distance.
Illustrating the dreamy, self-indulgent, pleasurable nature of indolence.
We now live in a world where we take pride in being busy. "I'm sorry I can't come. I'm busy." We often hear this from our family and friends. Being busy has become a badge of honor. The busier you are, the more important you are in this world. We fill up our day with scheduled meetings, projects to be done, errands to attend to, and a lot more until there's no space on the planner. We equate self-worth and fulfillment with to-do lists. If feels like if you have a lot of things on your plate, you are doing life right. Well, if you can relate to this, think again.
“We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” – Michelle Obama
In social media platforms, we get to witness how other people spend their day, and then, we realize what we should be doing, adhering to the "should's and must's. Our daily lives are intertwined with our online persona and it seems that the concept of doing nothing is completely a waste of time.
But wait a minute, dolce far niente doesn't mean slacking off. It isn't about being lazy and neglecting responsibilities. It is the pleasure one experiences from the pleasant idleness, completely enjoying the stillness of the moment. For Italians, this concept is what they normally do on a daily basis. Spending time in a cafe while watching people nearby, sipping wine at sunset, taking a walk, creating art, opening windows to catch a breath of fresh air. It is the sensation of admiring the beauty of life in its simplicity. Time slows and you see how calm and comforting it is to reflect and take a step out of the fast-paced life where everything and everyone is demanding attention from us.
You don't need to go to Italy to experience dolce far niente. It doesn’t mean to spend a day at a spa and drown yourself in luxurious products. You don't need to drink and eat Pinot Noir and Gruyere. So here are 5 ways one can fully experience this Italian concept without spending too much money and time.
How to finesse dolce far niente:
Savoring every bite
Your typical morning might look like this: rushing to prepare a slice of bread and coffee while you're holding your phone, on one hand, watching the next episode of the latest series or checking notifications you've missed while you were sleeping. Lunch and dinner time might look like: you're eating sitting in front of your computer while you switch from one tab to another or taking food selfies.
Eating is such a habitual act and we tend to pair it with a task that's more important and entertaining. But savoring every bite is simple yet rewarding. Give food your full attention. Notice the texture. Activate your gustatory senses. What does it taste like? Relish the moment. Experience all the flavors. Find joy in savoring the sweetness of the chocolate or try guessing what spices or herbs were put in your meal. Just give it a try. It can do you wonders.
Stare and Dare
Find a comfortable position and sit still for a few minutes. Stare at the ceiling and let your wildest thoughts and dreams resurface. Stare in awe. Stare at nature and look at the world with a child's eye. Dare to dream.
Let go of guilt
Many of us feel guilt when we stay in bed all day. We often think that instead of relaxing, we should've done something more urgent and important. We need to learn how to relax without feeling guilty. Give yourself a permission slip to go about your day however you desire. Giving your brain downtime boosts creativity and productivity. Our resting state helps us to give space to recharge and to keep us mentally healthy. Quit working so hard creating a life for yourself, that you don’t have time to live.
Rest day, Sunday
A Sunday well spent brings a week full of content. Sunday is the perfect day to refuel your soul and to be grateful for each and every one of your blessings. Life is all about balance. You don't always need to be getting stuff done. Sometimes it's perfectly okay and absolutely necessary to do nothing and chill back.
Offline is the new luxury
Mindless TV watching takes away the time of doing nothing. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are not Dolce far Niente. Getting lost online for hours can drain your energy. Don’t mistake entertainment for pleasure.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms...”― Henry David Thoreau
Instead of checking trending tweets, deleting emails, or binge-watching, what can you add to your day to fully experience the sweetness of doing nothing?
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