The Art of Doing Nothing Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself

by Vienne, Veronique; Lennard, Erica

• ISBN13: 9780609600740
• ISBN10: 0609600745
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-08-25
• Publisher: Potter Style

Summary

The Art of Doing Nothing Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself A culture of overachievers, we make things happen--and happen fast. While rushing along, though, the days seem to get shorter and shorter. If only time would hold still, just a little bit, to let us savor life's simplest moments. . . . The Art of Doing Nothing will help to ease these beat-the-clock jitters. The stress-reducing techniques described here require no time, no skill, no commitment. A practical guide to rest and relaxation, it ushers us into a world where "being" is more compelling than "doing." Beautifully illustrated with Erica Lennard's photographs, The Art of Doing Nothing gives us permission to celebrate idleness in all its mesmerizing forms. Veronique Vienne's delightfully informative essays on the art of breathing, meditating, bathing, listening, waiting, and more offer useful tips on such skills as how to whistle, stay in the moment, take a nap, cure a cold, or watch the sun set over the horizon. Without further ado--and without feeling guilty--we learn to unwind, exhale, and, yes, stop and smell the roses. Like Ira Gershwin, you will be delighted to discover that you've got plenty of nothin', and that nothin's plenty for you.

Author Biography

<b>Véronique Vienne</b> is a writer, editor, and marketing consultant. Her book French Style was published by Express in 1993. <br><br>A contributing editor to House & Garden, she writes cultural essays for Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country,  InStyle, Mirabella, and more. <br><br><b>Erica Lennard</b> is an internationally renowned photographer, whose books include Artists' Gardens, Writers' Houses, and Breaking Ground. She exhibits her work in galleries worldwide and contributes to magazines such as Elle International, French Vogue, and House Beautiful.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 9
The art of procrastinating	p. 10
In the footsteps of Thoreau	p. 15
Whistling 101	p. 17
The art of breathing	p. 18
Breathing and pain control	p. 22
Staying in the moment	p. 24
The art of meditating	p. 26
What is enlightenment?	p. 30
Be still - not stiff	p. 33
The art of lounging	p. 34
Wear down your restlessness	p. 39
Tips for beach bums	p. 41
The art of yawning	p. 42
Natural reflexology	p. 46
Stretch your imagination	p. 49
The art of napping	p. 50
Dealing with a guilty conscience	p. 53
Recipe for a gourmet nap	p. 55
The art of bathing	p. 56
What's hydrotherapy?	p. 59
What's aromatherapy?	p. 61
How about balneotherapy?	p. 63
A forgotten home remedy	p. 65
The art of tasting	p. 66
What's on the tip of your tongue?	p. 70
How to drink and stay sober	p. 73
The art of listening	p. 74
Listen to your intuition	p. 78
When silence is golden	p. 81
The art of waiting	p. 82
Now or never	p. 86
How to watch a sunset	p. 89
Conclusion	p. 91
A little glossary of nothingness	p. 93
A selected bibliography	p. 94
Photo credits	p. 96
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