In our harum-scarum world, full to the lip with 24-hour social media, non-stop distractions and constant interruptions, it's no surprise that we feel strung out on technology, jaded from information overload, but afraid to step away in case we miss something vital.

Restless travel writer and essayist Pico Iyer offers a simple solution – just stop, even for a little bit.

Be brave enough to disconnect and the rewards will be immense: he maintains that sitting still will leave ‘you as wide-eyed, exhilarated and pumping-hearted as when you are in love’.

The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer (Simon & Schuster, £7.99)