This Soothing Italian Philosophy Transforms the Way I Do Everything

“Piano piano” is an old Italian saying that sounds nonsensical, but is actually full of wisdom, especially if you, like me, are finding yourself wishing away these frigid winter days and hoping spring and summer gets here fast. These days, I’ve found myself rushing from one thing to the next, frustrated at the smallest things, from post office lines to just missing my train. And I’m ready to make a change.

It’s incredibly easy to get wound up over and over again, letting daily annoyances overshadow the bigger joy of life. And that’s exactly why embracing “piano piano” is a game-changer.

Here’s what you need to know about this Italian concept and how to implement it into your everyday life.

If you play the piano, you may have seen the term “piano” appear in sheet music. This is a message to the musician to play softly, giving the keys a gentler touch to create a softer sound. 

This mark was adapted outside of the music world into the phrase, “piano piano.” It means approaching something little by little rather than loudly and all at once.

“‘Piano piano’ is the unofficial slogan of the Cilento region of Italy, just south of the Amalfi Coast,” says Danielle Oteri of Feast Travel. “My grandmother would say it constantly, usually in Italian or sometimes in English as ‘little by little.’”

The idea is that you should approach things slowly and more softly by easing into the day’s activities rather than attacking them. “Piano piano” is about exercising patience and realizing that each small moment is worth appreciating — even in times of frustration. 

After reading about the “piano piano” concept online, I decided to apply it to my own life at just the right time. I’ve been in a particularly busy season where I’ve been trying to optimize every minute of the day, and the slightest disruption seems to send my schedule into a tailspin. 

I decided to commit to “piano piano” in mid-January, and I threw myself into the gauntlet by going grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s on a Monday around 5 p.m. I knew the line was going to be long — and it was — but instead of getting annoyed and scrolling endlessly through my phone, I tried to embrace the act of being there. I noticed what others around me were buying, and started daydreaming about other recipes I could make. I tried to relax into the moment, knowing that, at most, this would add five to 10 minutes to my errand that I could spend being present and thinking. A few extra people in line just meant more energy around me — not something to throw off my entire day.

I also made an effort to get to my workout class a few minutes early rather than running in at the last minute. I stretched and embraced a moment of mindfulness. I saw it as part of the experience rather than trying to optimize my time in a way that would put me in the class for exactly one hour and not a second more. 

I used “piano piano” as a motto whenever I was stuck in a situation where I’d typically find myself wishing my way out. Instead, I’d take a deep breath and try to be conscious of what my senses were experiencing. Nine times out of 10, I’m not actually losing significant time that will affect my schedule — I just need to practice patience and presence. Piano piano.

“‘Piano piano’ is a powerful mindset tool that, in its simplicity and frequency of repetition, reminds you that you should go slowly because that’s how you best achieve your goal and enjoy the process along the way,” says Oteri. “The genius of piano piano is that it reminds you that the journey is the destination.”

And that’s exactly what I reminded myself today while I fought traffic to get to an appointment across town. I looked out the window, appreciated the gorgeous winter day and the way the branches stretched out across the sky, turned up a favorite podcast, and savored the time to be alone rather than worrying about whether or not I would be two minutes late.