The Sweetness of Doing Nothing: The Importance of Taking the Time to Live Slowly In Capitalist America
I was scrolling online recently and fell down a rabbit hole of discourse surrounding the differences between the American and Italian lifestyle. The general sentiment I got from this was that the values of many Italian people do not align with the American way of life. Opposite to America, the Italian way of life is centered around slow-paced, intentional movement. These people engaged in discourse did not seem to be totally bashing Americans for being hard working, their commentary seemed to come more from a place of concern. And overworking yourself is concerning when you never give yourself the time to take a breather. This got me thinking about how we could all collectively take inspiration from the slower-paced Italian lifestyle.
Because American culture already functions by way of capitalism, I think it would be very privileged of me to say that everyone should suddenly adopt a slow lifestyle — start growing their own fruits and vegetables, and begin taking long breaks from work within the day. Not everyone's schedule would allow a complete shift to de-center toxic productivity. Time is money, and it is essential for me to mention this. It is unfortunate that rest should be considered a luxury, but we have been trained to believe that it is. By observing the lifestyle of Italian people, I only mean to inform you that a separate way of life is possible. The idea is not to adopt a completely new lifestyle, but to implement elements of slow living into your everyday life.
In Italian, there is a saying called “Dolce far niente,” which translates to “The sweetness of doing nothing.” It is a saying that means to live in the moment and take time to enjoy life as it is. It is prioritizing presentism over perfection. In the film “Eat, Pray, Love” starring Julia Roberts, there is a scene in which her character, Elizabeth, is talking to an older Italian man in a barbershop. She talks about how during her time in Rome she has not done anything of substance. He says to her:
“You feel guilty because you are American, you don’t know how to enjoy yourself. Americans. You work too hard; you get burned out. Then you come home, and you spend the whole weekend in your pajamas in front of the TV. But you don’t know pleasure. You have to be told you earned it, but an Italian doesn’t need to be told.”
Now, America does not function like Italy because America is not Italy, but he makes a fair point. In an article by BBC titled “Why 'doing nothing, intentionally' is good for us: The rise of the slow living movement”, author Holly Williams poses the question:
“Is a slower, more mindful pace of life the answer to stress – or is it just another unachievable, privileged lifestyle brag?”
Williams mentions that boasting about productivity is common in America; there is constant praise for professional achievements and the climbing of corporate ladders, but have we completely lost the point? By seeking to constantly better our professional positions, status, and financial standing, are we denying ourselves the joy of the seemingly mundane? Of the opportunity to do nothing and be content in that nothingness? By nothing, I do not mean mindlessly scrolling through apps and indulging in algorithms (because much of social media is controlled by the puppeteer that is capitalism), I mean sitting idly and taking the time to observe the way that the world moves around you. The gentle rustle of windblown leaves, children laughing in a nearby park, the way that the gum-stained pavement beneath your feet could resemble the shape of a heart. There is value to this slowness, because within observation is reflection. Capitalism does not want you to stop and take time to reflect because there is no means of profiting from that inaction.
Williams talks about how slow living has been trending in American culture– that “hustle is out, and rest is in.” With every generation, productivity culture changes. The way that Americans work now is not the same way that Americans worked in previous decades. As we might be shifting towards an America that allows for more freedom to indulge in nothingness, I find it hard to believe that in this capitalistic society, there would be a widespread trend that focuses on slow living — slow living is everything that capitalism is not.
Williams also mentions that the internet and social media have a lot to do with the way that Americans behave in and out of the workplace. Technology makes us work more.
“The rise of tracking apps, too, turns leisure activities, exercise, and even the barest necessities of life like eating and sleeping into data that can be compared and improved upon.”
Social media curates relaxation, turning it into another form of work. It is not leisure. Scrolling is not resistance. The combination of constant work and scrolling could be affecting the nervous system. In an article titled “Taking It Slow,” by Harvard Health Publishing author Matthew Solan says that “Practicing slow living may indirectly offer health benefits, such as lowering your stress level and blood pressure as you become more mindful during the day.”
The idea is to appreciate the things that you already have in a way that is more intentional, to stop for a moment to breathe. By prioritizing simple actions such as standing in the sun and acknowledging the way that the rays warm your skin, or drinking your morning coffee and savoring every sip, you could possibly bring more constructive reflection and mindfulness into your life.