The Sweetness of Doing Nothing

Love of bustle is not industry—it is only the restlessness of a hunted mind. -Seneca

We’re guilty of filling our schedules and letting the pressures of modern society to be productive all the time get to us. This only builds anxiety, so one of the things we love most about Italy is their appreciation of idleness—letting space, stillness and time soothe the soul. One of our favorite Italian sayings is “Dolce Far Niente”, which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

A favorite place of ours to experience this is a family-run agriturismo in Tuscany. Time ticks a little slower, the quietness is refreshing and the space unclutters the mind. We enjoy drinking the house wine, strolling through the vineyards, making stovetop espressos and taking swims on long summer days.