Kimberly Frey Consulting

I recently posted on social media about the need to normalize doing “nothing.” Throughout the world, there are cultures who value and prioritize the need for downtime and rest. These traditions honor this simple truth: humans benefit from regular opportunities to recharge. Let’s take a look at how other cultures have incorporated this value into their every day lives.

Spain – Infamous for the idea of the afternoon siesta, early Spaniards recognized that working during the hottest part of the day actually ended up being less productive than resting during that time and continuing to work once the day had cooled off a little. This concept was so integral to their society that it was even practiced in urban areas. Although the number of Spaniards who report regularly taking an afternoon siesta has declined, it is still imbedded in their culture as evidenced by their retail industry that predominately shuts down from 2pm-5pm daily.

Italy – Taking time for recreation and leisure are high priorities for Italians. I have visited several regions throughout this beautiful country and have seen first hand how their love and respect for downtime is practiced. I have never been rushed during a meal at an Italian restaurant, no matter how busy they were, and even though I was always dining alone. Being surrounded by Italians fully enjoying themselves over a cup of coffee, glass of wine, or a sumptuous meal makes it so easy to understand the importance of valuing la dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing.

Japan – While the Japanese might not be the first culture that comes to mind when thinking about rest and relaxation, they have a longstanding history of honoring the importance of rest. The balance of rest and hard work is intricately woven into their daily lives. Tea ceremonies and meditation are traditions that help prepare them for rest, and the common practice of inemuri (taking naps in public places – even while at work) is not only acceptable, but a sign of a person’s diligence.

Scandinavia – the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are infamous for the value they place on rest and contentment in simple pleasures such as spending time with family, reading a book, or enjoying nature. Prioritizing relaxation and leisure is one of the reasons why Scandinavians are consistently ranked the happiest people in the world.

Here in the United States, Americans tend to value productivity, attainment, and success far above rest, relaxation, and downtime. We take pride in our “can do” spirit that has made our country what it is today. Because of this, Americans are often unwilling to either engage in rest and downtime or admit that they do. How often have you asked someone how they’ve been and they reply with “busy”? How often have you felt guilty for sitting on the couch and doing “nothing” with your day except reading a book or watching a movie? I recently posted on social media that we needed to normalize the idea that downtime is just as important and productive as whatever work we do. Spending time doing things we love and/or with people we love is a major component of maintaining a healthy life balance and supporting positive mental health in our lives. In my post, I related it to the idea of recharging our cellphones. We don’t get mad or think less of our phones because the battery is running low; we plug them in and allow them time to charge. When the battery is critically low, we might even turn the phone off or put it on airplane mode to help it charge faster and more fully. We need to allow ourselves and others the same grace and space for downtime and recharging as we do for our cell phones. Taking care of our mental health and avoiding burnout is way more important than our phones, so let’s honor it as such.

La dolce far niente ~ The sweetness of doing nothing.

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