The Art Of Doing Nothing

The Japanese call non-doing “Boketto“.

Italians call it “La dolce far niente“, – the sweetness of doing nothing.

If there is any skill we should be honing during these long months of quarantine in this crazy, sputtering world, it is the art of doing nothing.

Make no mistake friends, non-doing is a skill AND an art.

We have become so accustomed to fast-paced, busy, rush-filled days and short, sleepless nights that we have not had the time or energy to indulge in the simple act of doing nothing.

Here’s how you do it:

do nothing

That’s right. Don’t make plans (how can you anyway with COVID?)

Don’t make a to-do list.

Don’t feel you have to do anything except be comfortable, safe and at peace. Be it in your cozy bed, comfy couch, or out in nature, just sitting still.

Just pause.  Just rest.  Just spend time in quiet.   Doing nothing.

And here’s the tricky part of non-doing: do NOT feel guilty about doing nothing.

View is as nourishment for your mind; rest for your muses, food for your soul.

Sit in peace, solitude and silence and let the calm cover you over like warm water or quiet snow.

Close your eyes to the world – it can be too much sometimes – and rest in your cocoon.

This isn’t meditating – that’s too much work. It’s just non-doing.

And not feeling an ounce of shame over doing nothing.

 

 

*This moment of nothingness was brought to you by a professional social worker, trained in guided non-doing. Try this at home. It’s free.

 

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