Niksen is a Dutch term that translates to “to do nothing”. The term became popularized by Olga Mecking, journalist and author of ‘Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing’. It explores the concept of how, by doing less, you allow so much more. Allowing yourself to fully unplug can lead to more productivity, creativity, and happiness.
When was the last time you allowed yourself to do absolutely nothing? No to-do list, no busywork, no productivity? With the constant pressure to do more and be more, allowing time and space to just exist seems counterintuitive.
In today’s society, doing nothing doesn’t bode well, as we’re all expected to be doing everything. Work, have a side hustle, maintain relationships, keep up with your to-do list, practice your self-care, cook dinner, and keep your house clean. Sometime during the day of doing it all, you need a break.
This is where niksen can help. Instead of adding one more thing to your daily tasks list, we’re doing the opposite. Although self-care activities are worth it, sometimes finding time to exercise, meditate, and journal on top of your other tasks can make self-care feel overwhelming. On days that you can’t fit in a pilates class or face mask, use niksen as a self-care substitute.
European Lifestyle-
Northern European countries appear to have the secret sauce to life as they repeatedly rank as the world’s happiest countries. Could the Netherlands’ way of niksen be another key ingredient for overall happiness? The Danes have hygge, which implements elements of coziness into their life, and Sweden has lagom, which is not having too little or too much but just enough.
The Dutch’s niksen, is similar to the Italians’ “La Far Dolce Niete”, which translates to the sweetness of doing nothing. Obviously, these countries’ more laid-back approach to life is doing something right and boosting overall happiness for their citizens.
Mindfulness vs Niksen-
You might be wondering if your meditation practice is already niksen. Not quite. Meditation and mindfulness are purposeful and require effort, even if it’s passive effort. In meditation, you pay attention to your thoughts and allow them to float away. Niksen isn’t as strict, you can daydream and let your mind wander as much or as little as you want during your designated niksen time. If meditation is mindfulness, consider niksen mindlessness. Niksen is considered niksen when you don’t have an objective in mind.
Balance-
Many associate doing nothing with being lazy, having zero ambition, or wasting precious time that you could be elevating. While that would be true if the majority of your day is spent doing niksen, that’s not what we’re going for. The key here is balance. If you want to fill your day with projects, that’s fine, but aim to spend a few times a week or on the weekends doing niksen to give yourself a moment of rest.
You don’t need to add niksen to your already long list of daily duties, but do it when it feels right. If you have some time to spare instead of doomscrolling, replace it with niksen instead.
You don’t want to overdo niksen either – doing too little can cause you to fall behind on your goals and priorities. Humans are meant to do things. People are often happier when they are active and involved in their communities. Niksen is just a little reminder to take a moment for yourself to completely unplug and reset.
You can try scheduling your niksen for a moment of pause throughout your day without getting carried away. Schedule it like you would a coffee break or niksen during your coffee break. Set a time limit of 10- 15 minutes. It might feel long at first, but after you’ve done it a few times, you might get lost in the flow, and time will begin to fly by.
Cognitive Function-
When our brain is overloaded every day, it becomes more difficult to process information and emotions. When we allow our mind space, it can clear itself and induce creativity. Similar to how allowing yourself to experience boredom can produce higher creativity levels. While it might seem backward at first, taking regular breaks can declutter your mind and lead to better productivity and focus throughout your day.
Niksen for Health-
Stress and burnout boost cortisol (your body’s stress hormone) levels. Long-term raised cortisol can be detrimental to your health. By practicing niksen regularly, you can lower stress, feel more relaxed, and activate your calm parasympathetic nervous system.
Niksen can potentially give you the health and happiness boost that you’ve been looking for. It can help your mind relax at night and fall asleep more peacefully, leading to more adequate rest. Lowering your stress levels through niksen can trickle down and create positive chain reactions for your health and wellness.
Niksen Ideas-
We work out to get fit, we clean the house so that it looks and feels better, or we put in overtime hours for the hopes of a potential promotion one day. Humans sometimes forget that we’re allowed to just exist for a few minutes without having a plan or a goal or something to achieve or accomplish.
Start your day with a slow morning, steer clear of your phone, and enjoy your coffee without any distractions. Play music and dance around your living room if the vibe feels right. Go for a leisurely walk outside, or sit in a cafe or restaurant and people-watch. Stroll on the beach and watch waves crash, or sit on a park bench and notice the shapes in the clouds. However you choose to niksen, do it without a purpose in mind.
When Not To Niksen-
There are obviously going to be periods or phases in your life where regular niksen isn’t possible. If you have a huge project deadline coming up at work, or if you’ve just had a new baby. Niksen is supposed to be a stress-free activity, so don’t get hard on yourself if you can’t make time for it as much as you’d like.
Life ebbs and flows, and different chapters will be more time-consuming than others. Practice niksen when it makes sense for you and serves as a calm and relaxed activity, as opposed to something that stresses you out.
Final Thoughts-
Have you ever watched raindrops race on the car window, while pretending you were the star in your own movie? Many of us don’t make space for those empty moments anymore. How can you create more space for empty moments to destress and let your creativity take the wheel?
This post isn’t telling you to quit your job, throw it all away, and live off the grid, but to have you question how you spend each moment. Even in your downtime, there’s probably not a second where you’re not scrolling, have a podcast playing in the background, or are binge-watching your fav tv series.
Use niksen as a form of mindlessness to clear the clutter and chatter in your mind. Revel in the fact that not every movement you make needs an objective. Even if it’s only for a short while, you’re allowed to just be.
