THE once-popular pastime of staring into the distance for minutes at a time is back in fashion thanks to Wolf Hall and Broadchurch.
Historian Nikki Hollis said: “For centuries gazing was Britain’s most popular hobby. In medieval times people would spend their leisure time looking out across fields and either smiling wryly at mankind’s folly, or wearing a pained expression as if peering into some secret wound that no love can ever heal.
“But in the last 100 years gazing has gradually fallen from favour, with people preferring to stare at screens.”
Tom Booker, 29, who runs gazing workshops in London, said: “Moist-eyed staring promotes a sense of spiritual well-being and improves your sex life by making you seem deeper and more interesting.”
Logan advised those who would like to try gazing to stand at a right angle to a window then slowly turn to look searchingly at some fixed point in the distance, such as a bush or road sign.
He added: “Hold your position until the windowpane is covered with your condensed breath and the world outside looks like some misty watercolour memory of the way we were.”
