The Beauty of Doing Nothing
It is in his pleasure that a man really lives; it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self. ––Agnes Repplier
I’m not usually one to share the bizarro holidays that pop up on the calendar, but this is one I couldn’t resist. Today is Lazy Day, the kind of holiday I can really get behind. That we are in the dog days of summer, the kind that almost feel like a rut, makes it even more apropos. Who wants to do more on August 10 than sip a glass of iced tea, anyway?
When I was in college, a speaker came and gave a talk in the little chapel about the importance of leisure. I didn’t know then what real day-in, day-out work looked like, so I’m surprised what he said so affected me I had to scribble it down in my notebook: we reveal ourselves in our leisure as much as our work. The idea that downtime could somehow play a role in identity––that leisure could somehow be important––was an intoxicating idea to me. And now that I have daily work that consists of slightly more than “Read this novel; think about it; write paper; meet someone for coffee,” it’s an idea I can appreciate even more.
Especially after coming off such a fun weekend. My daily life is so much in my head: sitting, writing, writing, sitting. But this weekend on a bare Iowa horizon, I was in my heart and my body. Dancing, sweating, swimming. Smiling like a goon, and laughing till I ached. It made me think about physical fun, about being present in form, fully inhabited. Not talking it out, not analyzing, but relaxing into the summer heat, twirling skirts on the dance floor, leaning in for a kiss.
Which, of course, has nothing to do with being lazy. But it does have to do with fun. The pure, unadulterated bliss of pleasure for pleasure’s sake. And that feels related to a holiday about kicking back and doing nothing at all: il bel far niente.
And yet, I’m a little embarrassed of the word lazy. I certainly don’t want to be seen as such, despite how well I can nap and spend the better part of an hour in the bathtub. I’ve been known to wile whole Saturdays away in bed. But lazy seems so judgy; perhaps it’s just my Puritan roots shining through. I’ll be doing my best today to shirk off any ancestral guilt and find an hour to just sit and stare out a window. Consider this your invitation to join me.
image via LIFE
Anne: I think this is very interesting — especially since I am a writer working from home. All my laziness has been lost because there’s always something next to me to be done! But yes, it needs to come back, and soon. Something to work on.1 year ago
Laziness sometimes creeps in unconsciously, and that can kind of end up making you feel bad. But consciously choosing laziness and walking away from your work for an hour seems like a very good idea, indeed.1 year ago
Tori: ahhh…can I be lazy, too? right after I get home from my 9-5…1 year ago
Do it, Tori! And by “it,” I mean nothing!
1 year ago
Annie Hall: There is something truly lovely about ignoring the to do list and doing nothing. Like you, my midwestern roots make me leary of wasting time, and yet oh how I delight when I grant myself the permission to just be. I find porch swings to be about the best places for indulgent lounging.1 year ago
Evon T.: Sarah, with or without an invite, I will surely join you, as I do always. I absolutely love to nap and watch tv, because while I’m at work its phonecall after phonecall, computers, team leaders, work-related (boring) emails, and other annoyances. So when I have time off, I relish in the idea of lounging. And while I find that being productive at home brings me great reward, I have to build up to the state of mind that would catapult me into a few hours of unpacking and household chores. Lounging has become one of my favorite things to do. Maybe I’ll start working on jigsaw puzzles in my downtime. Do you think that might cause that “lazy” label to fade a tad bit? XOXO!1 year ago
Lisa (dinner party): Great post, Sarah. This is something I need reminding of. I have a really hard time sitting and doing nothing, but it really is important from time to time. Especially naps. Ooh, naps.1 year ago
Anita: I’ve been a SAHM for over 20 years and let me tell ya…you have to have your lazy moments or you can go insane! I always make time for a bit of laziness in my schedule. It helps to refresh the body and brain!1 year ago
K of www.itsafullnest.com: 5 friends and I are reading Martha Beck’s The Joy Diet. The first chapter is about doing NOTHING. All 6 of us are struggling with this (the doing nothing part) and trying to hold each other accountable. I’m going to share this post with them. Thanks for the help!1 year ago