The gentle art of pottering
May is a joyous month for all sorts of reasons, not least gamboling lambs, explosions of blossom and the fact that it marks the unofficial start of the pottering season. For the uninitiated, pottering involves wandering aimlessly around the house or garden in a pleasingly disassociated meditative state, straightening pictures, wiping plant leaves, or de-bobbling jumpers. A bank holiday constitutes pottering paradise, and this month there are a blissful three long weekends over which to endlessly mooch, idle, snip and tweak.
But it’s important that pottering activities aren’t taxing, time-sensitive or goal-oriented. Pottering isn’t jobs. It isn’t chores. It involves tasks (and I use the term loosely) that are so low down the priority scale that they don’t merit a mention on any to-do list. To get the best out of pottering, it must be pleasingly unproductive with a negligible but highly satisfying outcome. Importantly – and this is good news for pottering’s greatest fans, prevaricators and procrastinators – pottering projects can be abandoned unfinished, to be re-continued in some as-yet unspecified future timeframe.
Replenishing bird-feeders, tinkering with the layout of the sock drawer, plumping cushions, dead-heading flowers: pottering is best enjoyed in solitude. This way, the potterer can achieve heights of vacant day-dreaminess normally frowned on in a frantic, results-fixated society. But it takes a certain strength of character to potter without being weighed down by guilt, shame and judgy self-recrimination. There is a sense that achieving nothing of very much consequence is somehow a squanderous misuse of time, but, performed properly, pottering is time well wasted. It operates in an elastic netherworld between working, not-working and glorious idleness, and is a skill worth nurturing.
A potterer should aim to languorously drift from one location to the next – perhaps in a kaftan, kimono, housecoat or other suitably loose, capaciously floaty garment. Slack elastic, baggy bottoms and general dishevelment matter not to the seasoned potterer: comfort is key. Optimal pottering footwear includes slippers, mules and knackered old garden shoes with the heels trodden down. Shuffling is good, as is scuffing, meandering and dawdling. Hum tunelessly, whistle under your breath, have a good scratch – potter like nobody’s watching.
Lately, there have been attempts to re-brand pottering for the Instagram generation as me-time, self-care, meditation or mindfulness. But, long before all that smug, Gwynnethy stuff came along, the process of taking restorative pleasure and solace in simple, solitary activities was just plain, good old-fashioned pottering. While the personal growth industry is fond of loudly broadcasting its journey towards self-actualisation, potterers have always been quietly getting on with it – tinkering, pootling, wafting and pondering, and more than happy in their own company.
Judy Rumbold is a freelance writer and journalist and new TNMA contributor.
Photo of Sian Tucker by Penny Wincer
Sian Tucker runs Fforest – a lovely retreat in the Welsh countryside – with her husband James and eldest son Jackson.
Be sure to potter in comfort:
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Discussion (47 Comments)
Debs C says:
Pottering in peace is very therapeutic. I love cleaning the cutlery tray, a reorganisation of the airing cupboard, an exploration of my junk jewellery box and even cleaning my shoes. The ability to start and finish a job, with no need for anyone else involved, little or no tools, or expenditure, is hugely satisfying. Love live the ability to potter and no amount of AI can do that for me!
Kathryn McKenzie says:
This article and this photo sum up my life goals . I’m closing in on 52 and all I want to do is potter ! Tired of anything that feels like stress and /or rat races. Fellow readers, do click the link to see this beautiful woman’s home/retreat.
Is “to potter” a British phrase? I haven’t heard that ever used here in my little part of the US (in my circle). I like to say “toodle” which can mean to wander about the house and yard like described, and I also use the term if we ever get to embark on a Sunday type drive or bike ride – no hurry, no itinerary. Let’s go toodle!
Thanks for sharing this article – I will now begin to use the lovely word “potter” .
Jaxx says:
Yes, very British! Quite middle-class, I would say (others may like to wiegh in!). Where you say toodle for a rambling Sunday outing we might say pootle… e.g. pootling around country lanes or pootling around a market. Also quite middle/upper-class and old-fashioned but rather lovely.
mrsglimmer says:
Here in the Scottish Borders, we say “plittering”, and there’s nothing I like more than a “plittery day.” I have reached Olympic standards in it! Refreshing change to read about pottering, rather than all those high achievers who have to be busy at all times!
Great article..
Roberta says:
Positively enjoyed this article! Love all the unique British phrasing. More like this please.
Jane says:
I just love this article! Since I retired I seem to have got uncommonly good at pottering and, like Judy, can thoroughly recommend it
Lyn says:
What a lovely article. Just reading it makes me want to potter.
It’s becoming my favourite pastime, especially with a mug of coffee in my hand when I get up and potter In the garden, deadheading and on snail watch before work!
Alyson McGarrigle says:
One of our favourite expressions is ‘pottering along’ the gentle art of doing nothing in a pleasant or much loved place. It’s highly recommended!
Paula says:
How wonderful! This could have been written for me, a lifelong potterer, prevaricator and procrastinator. I quite like to use the word “pootle” too.
I will try and banish the low level guilt that accompanies my pottering and embrace it instead!
Namaste
Sarah McCartney says:
How wonderful to read such beautiful thoughts, expressed with light wit, then to find out that it’s Judy Rumbold, who I remember from her time as fashion editor at The Guardian in the ’90s. I do love a good potter.
Anne says:
My daughter and I both do a lot of Miss Pottering (named after her favourite author when small).
Heather Cupit says:
I love this too. I specialise in staring into space and thinking quiet thoughts.
Sigrid Graf says:
I just had a good laugh: As my mother tongue is not english, I misunderstood the word pottering for making pottery and was quite curious about the article.
I love pottering around (not only in May) and even without a goal I often finish a lot of tasks by doing that. Finally sewing that little whole in my jeans or ironing the last few shirts or weeding a corner in my garden …Angela Muller says:
This article was resplendent in its eloquence; employing every descriptive adjective known to man. If I were back in the classroom, this essay would be my “go-to” lesson for every student crossing my threshold! To say, “I loved it”, is an understatement!⭐️⭐️
Judy Rumbold says:
Thank you for the two gold stars, Angela. You’re my kind of teacher! Here’s to resplendently eloquent descriptive adjectives. Already working on my next essay…x
Elizabeth says:
I LOVE THIS! I am about to retire and was wondering what in the world I would do with my time. Would I be consumed with guilt if I just “piddled” around, not accomplishing anything substantial. No — I will “potter” and feel no shame!
Go forth and potter, Elizabeth! Enjoy your retirement – you’ve earned the right to piddle guilt-free x
Gill says:
Excellent post ! I’ve pottered for years though I’ve always called it ferreting – not sure if that’s even a word but it’s what my Mum used to call it and I’ve kept it up.
I’m about to indulge right now which will include cushion tidying, rearranging a bookshelf and sorting through my toilet bag before a few days away. All with a mug of tea of course! Potterers (and ferreters) unite and enjoy!Julie Seddon says:
Where I come from, ferreting is to search for something by moving things around eg ferreting through odds and ends for the right length of string or “have a ferret through the first aid drawer for a plaster”. Ferreting could also be a euphemism for being nosy: “What are you ferreting in there for?” said in an accusing tone!
Roz says:
I agree; to ferret is not the same verb as to potter.
I frequently make Ferret soup which is made up of ingredients found while ferreting through leftovers in the fridge.
Loved the article though!
LOVED this! Just love a potter… need to build up guilt resistance at the end of a day’s pottering & this has helped. Thank you.
Maisie says:
I love to potter, any time of the year, except perhaps deepest winter when it’s too cold to move far from the fire. Sorting cupboards, drawers, revisiting my bookshelves, all done at my own pace.
Probably something to be enjoyed even more as one ages, and an antidote to being busy all the time.
Although I think I’ve always been a potterer !Wendy says:
Love this. I think the biggest benefit of pottering is that potterers are never bored… because we can always potter! I often hear folk say that they dislike being at home, or being at home on their own, because they they don’t know what to do with themselves. This isn’t a problem I, or fellow potterers, ever have as we can always potter about doing something. I think pottering is akin to mooching and I’m very good at that too!
Lesley E says:
What a lovely post! It made me laugh out loud! Pottering is just the most perfect occupation I can think of for shaking off this all too frenetic world. I have thoroughly embraced pottering since retiring. Thank you, Judy, for brightening my evening. Power to the Potterers!
Margaret says:
I love this. As enjoyable to read as the most satisfactory potter. Thank you Judy.
Jane says:
Yep, I’m a potterer too and in the end find I get a surprising amount of small jobs done. The last months been full of pottering as I’ve been medicating and keeping inside a cat who made me feel guilty if I went outside to do proper chores, which was where he wanted to be. He’s well now & I’m destressed. Great to see the confirmation of potterings important purpose.
Nicola says:
I love this. Living in Australia where the seasons are opposite, May is autumnal and I’m pottering about finding my woolly socks, putting blankets out, gathering the last of the garden flowers, sweeping leaves.. I’m also de- bobbling my sweaters which I neglected to do when I put them away and looking at warming recipe books. Bliss!
Nicola A says:
Love this article. I’ve said for a while now “to potter” is my favourite activity.
Maggie Alderson says:
I loved this piece, thank you. Now I will go about my favourite activity with an added layer of satisfaction.
Suze says:
Excellent article , still grinning from ear to ear .
Pottering is a most satisfying and important pastime along with bunburying , which is also emminently fulfilling.
Thank you Judy.Sarah P says:
Maybe I need to stop being so disciplined about my deadheading! I have a backlog of this sort of tasks: polishing shoes, handwashing cashmere, sewing on buttons, repotting houseplants, removing greenfly from roses etc etc. They never seem to be complete.
Deane says:
I love a good potter (or putter) – I call it “touching my house.” I need a good touch session every weekend to feel grounded.
“Touching my house” – what a lovely expression! I’ve been touching my garden all day and feel thoroughly grounded (and filthy) xx
avicennia says:
Lovely essay ! I’ve been pottering (or puttering as we call it here), for the last three months to recover mind and body after a difficult number of years. It has required letting go of self judgement and acknowledging that the puttering has been necessary recuperation.
Good for you. I”m glad you’re puttering your way back to good health. Keep up the good work x
Debra Kay Steele says:
Oh, yes. Know it well. How delightful it is to potter. To fuss and muse, to enjoy the peace and one’s own company. Well-written article. Thank you.
Ooo this is lovely. Came here because I read on Substack the other day, about a word to call the activity that I love doing as you describe in this post as “to potter”. English isn’t my first language, so definitely I felt gleeful to learn that there’s a specific word to name my favourite pastime activity! I read from the comments that there are other words as well. Living in Scotland, I’m not sure if “pottering” is familiar, but I can keep using it.
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Wonderful article that made me smile.