 |
By *stella OP Woman
over a year ago
London |
Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Well living in italy i dont really have a choice but to be idle, when everything closes 1200-1630 there's literally nothing to do.
Also dont forget piano, piano or slowly, slowly in english. Italy is literally the embodiment of dolce par niente  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
This was biggest issue when I became ill.. the frustration of not ‘achieving’ anything.. it’s something I learnt to appreciate and now enjoy as much idle time as my brain needs. It’s all about the balance  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Dolce far niente- I understand it more to be taking time to follow your trail of thoughts so often leading to either new ideas, creativity or mindfulness.
Being idle has such a negative context, we’ve lost the art of enjoying time being alone whether it’s fabbing, binge watching or simply lying in bed doing nothing, obviously we need it else we wouldn’t do it, right? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
"
The latter. I feel.guilty sitting doing nothing, although I would love to have the time to sit and do nothing... I think its knowing you have the freedom to do nothing if you choose ... |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
As people know because I keep banging on about it, we're retired. 
We spend a lot of time being idle eg drinking coffee, chatting, surfing, reading etc nobody would accuse us of working hard. Obviously we don't spend our entire day doing not much at all but compared to when we worked we have a lot of time to just do as been please.
It's lovely we have time for family, friends, thinking and each other.
I think working hard and being occupied all the time is hugely over rated, it's easy to lose your self, your ideas and your relationships.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I need idle time to clear my head...I have a favourite tree that I like to sit under, I just listen to and watch nature around me, often with my pooch at my side. It calms me and puts everything into perspective, and makes my slice of the world a happy place again |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *Man1263Man
over a year ago
Stockport |
Depends on context.
When I am actually doing something which mean's I am being "idle" as in sat in traffic, dosn't bother me. Have sat in a trench/ditch for nearly 24hrs and not moved (other than a roll over) and found that easy to do and wasnt a bit idle nor bored, but that was because of the job.
Being forced to be idle, thats a different thing.
Wanting to be idle, as in just chill and relax, can do that
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I'm far too idle.
However, if I get enough time available I just sit and play the piano for hours and hours (five hours a day when I was doing my music degree) instead of doing what I should be getting on with.
Luke |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Dolce far niente- I understand it more to be taking time to follow your trail of thoughts so often leading to either new ideas, creativity or mindfulness.
Being idle has such a negative context, we’ve lost the art of enjoying time being alone whether it’s fabbing, binge watching or simply lying in bed doing nothing, obviously we need it else we wouldn’t do it, right?"
I like this. Quiet time to see what new ideas pop up. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I'm far too idle.
However, if I get enough time available I just sit and play the piano for hours and hours (five hours a day when I was doing my music degree) instead of doing what I should be getting on with.
Luke |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Dolce far niente- I understand it more to be taking time to follow your trail of thoughts so often leading to either new ideas, creativity or mindfulness.
Being idle has such a negative context, we’ve lost the art of enjoying time being alone whether it’s fabbing, binge watching or simply lying in bed doing nothing, obviously we need it else we wouldn’t do it, right?"
I am at my most creative when I’m doing nothing. I call it my nothing box.
I used to push myself to work on things that I needed to develop and often found my work was not productive or effective. When I changed to spending time focusing on nothing in particular and only doing the development work when I got inspiration, I found the quality of what I created and the efficiency of how I did it was dramatically improved. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
"
I dunno.. but I fancy you more for reading that  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *stella OP Woman
over a year ago
London |
"Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
I dunno.. but I fancy you more for reading that "
That made me blush. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
I dunno.. but I fancy you more for reading that
That made me blush. "
Wasn't my intention, but I'm glad you are |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I love being idle. It gives me time to centre myself.
Since I built the cabin in my garden I love going to it and simply doing nothing but listen to the sounds of nature.
An hour or two of that and I’m ready to tackle the world again. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *stella OP Woman
over a year ago
London |
"I love being idle. It gives me time to centre myself.
Since I built the cabin in my garden I love going to it and simply doing nothing but listen to the sounds of nature.
An hour or two of that and I’m ready to tackle the world again. "
I love going up to see my parents and getting out on the salt marshes listening to the wind and sea birds calling and the crash of waves. I agree, it’s centering stuff. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *rAitchMan
over a year ago
Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe |
If I need to lose myself in my thoughts and it's a nice day, rather than sit in the house I walk down the garden, climb over the stile and onto the riverbank, where there is a big log I sit on and watch the world go by. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I like embracing moments.
Stopping to smell that rose bush on my way home a jolly old man always trims and cares for cause his late wife loved it, sticking a tongue out in a rain, stroking neighbour's cat who sometimes takes naps on the recycling bin, watching my toes wiggle in my favourite wedges, amusing passers by with an unsolicited smile. Is that busy or idle? To me it's idle, it just happened, i stumbled on it and took it in. Taking a spontaneous time out to 'do' things which aren't scheduled/purposeful.
And it ties nicely with carpe diem.
Being idle is a form of a self care to me. In a puristic version. When I am busy I actually take a focus off myself. So not good long term..
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
"
the brain and the body e joy challenges makes us feel, alive, worthy, useful if youve noticed its quite common for people who've had a busy working life to retire and actually develop quite serious illnesses and die  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Idleness is often romanticised, as epitomised by the Italian expression dolce far niente (‘the sweetness of doing nothing’). We tell ourselves that we work hard from a desire for idleness. But in fact, we find even short periods of idleness hard to bear. Research suggests that we make up justifications for keeping busy and feel happier for it, even when busyness is imposed upon us. Faced with a traffic jam, we prefer to make a detour even if the alternative route is likely to take longer than sitting through the traffic.
There’s a contradiction here. We dream of being idle; at the same time, we always want to be doing something, always need to be distracted. How are we to resolve this paradox?
Do you enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing or feel constant guilt or have a desire to always be doing?
the brain and the body e joy challenges makes us feel, alive, worthy, useful if youve noticed its quite common for people who've had a busy working life to retire and actually develop quite serious illnesses and die "
enjoy |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
