How to Embrace Dolce Far Niente When You’re a Workaholic
You’d think that being in a tranquil place like Las Terrenas would naturally coax you into a state of Dolce Far Niente, that elusive “sweet doing nothing.” But that hasn’t (yet) been the case for me. It’s Saturday morning, and instead of soaking up the sun or taking that much-anticipated swim, I’m geared up for a run but glued to the laptop. Just one more task, I think, as the minutes tick away and the sun climbs higher, warning that it might soon be too hot for that run. My Airbnb is a dream, complete with a pool literally steps away from my screen-covered porch, and the beach just a five-minute walk from that. But despite having been here for six days, my time outdoors has been rationed, sandwiched between work sessions. Worse, I haven’t even taken a dip in the ocean. I didn’t think I had an addictive personality. Okay, maybe my coffee habit dances on the border of addiction, but work? Nah! Well, work addiction is a weird thing. You might not consider yourself addicted, but then you find yourself in paradise, perfectly set up for relaxation, and what do you do? Work. You’re within a stone’s throw from the beach, the sound of the ocean almost within earshot, but the laptop keyboard’s clicks drown it out. Days go by, and you haven’t even tasted the salt water.This realization came crashing down last night when I found myself debating — out loud — whether to enjoy a simple happy hour on the beach. Why was this even a question? Why did I have to convince myself to go out and enjoy 2-for-1 mojitos on the beach? And today, even though I scheduled time for a swim, it came with a condition — I must complete X amount of work by 2 p.m. So, what gives? I tell myself there are good reasons for this work-focused tunnel vision. I spent the prior two weeks visiting family and friends in the States after returning from Europe. I’m behind on work; that’s true. There are bills to pay; also true. But then, when am I not working? I’m always working. Client work, personal projects — you name it. The list never ends, and I fill my hours with tasks even when I don’t have to. Part of it is…
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