Just recently, my dear friend from BJ Medical College and the former Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, Dr. Nitin Kareer, was invited to address a group of our students. As the function began, the compère introduced him by reading out his impressive CV — a chronicle of decades of service, leadership, and achievement.
But there was a brief pause in the introduction. When it came to what Dr. Kareer had done after retirement, there wasn’t much to mention. And that’s when he, with a warm and genuine smile, said:
“I did nothing for one whole year.”
The audience chuckled, but behind his words was a deeper wisdom. He then quoted an Italian proverb:
“Il dolce far niente.”
“The sweetness of doing nothing.”
This phrase beautifully captures a core part of Italian culture — the joy, even the art, of doing absolutely nothing. Not out of laziness or apathy, but intentionally. Mindfully. It’s about allowing yourself space to breathe, reflect, and just be, without the constant pressure to produce, perform, or prove anything.
Doing Nothing… or Everything That Truly Matters
Dr. Kareer’s honest admission struck a chord with me. In a world that glorifies busyness, it’s rare — even radical — to say, “I did nothing,” and mean it with pride and contentment. But let’s take a closer look at that nothing. Was it really nothing?
Often, this phase of “doing nothing” includes long-forgotten joys: reading, gardening, introspecting, reconnecting with loved ones, taking walks without a purpose, sipping tea while watching the sunset, or simply letting your mind wander.
In truth, these quiet moments often reveal the most about who we are.
We live in a culture that equates value with output. Our calendars are full, our to-do lists never end, and rest is something we feel the need to earn — or worse, justify. But what if rest itself is productive? What if it’s necessary to recharge not just our bodies, but our minds and souls?
Especially for Women… When Is It Our Turn to Pause?
Dr. Kareer’s story got me thinking about how rarely women allow themselves this kind of pause. We may dream of a Sunday afternoon of “doing nothing,” but when that day arrives, it’s filled with grocery shopping, cleaning, homework supervision, laundry, and meal prep.
For working women, Sunday is often not a day of rest — it’s a catch-up day. Even our downtime gets scheduled, measured, or spent in service of others. Somewhere between the workplace and the home, we lose that sacred space to just be.
Have you ever seen a woman doing nothing — without guilt or apology?
Neither have I, and that’s something worth reflecting on.
But it’s not just about women. Many men, too, find it hard to truly disconnect. Even if they’re not pitching in at home (though increasingly many do), their Sundays often get filled with office work, social obligations, or the endless pings of a phone that never sleeps.
The Permission to Pause
What if we gave ourselves permission to pause — for a day, a week, or even just an hour? Not because we’re tired or burnt out, but because we deserve to enjoy being, not just doing.
Not everyone can take a year off like Dr. Kareer, of course. But maybe we don’t need a whole year. Maybe we need:
- An afternoon with no agenda.
- A walk without a podcast.
- A morning spent watching the rain, doing absolutely nothing productive — and feeling no guilt about it.
We must reclaim these moments. Especially in a hyper-connected world that rarely lets us switch off, “Il dolce far niente” is not a luxury — it’s a necessity for balance, mental health, and creative renewal.