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

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. Véronique 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.

Véronique Vienne is a writer, editor, and marketing consultant. Her book French Style was published by Express in 1993.

A contributing editor to House & Garden, she writes cultural essays for Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country,  InStyle, Mirabella, and more.

Erica Lennard 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.