Feeling overwhelmed? Unwinding doesn’t have to be complicated. Discover Niksen, the Dutch art of mindful doing nothing. Relax, reduce stress, and boost creativity by simply allowing yourself to be present. Start small with short breaks throughout your day to unwind and reconnect with yourself.
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Niksen
as a hobby
AKA: Doing Nothing
I see niksen as a form of self-care that is easier to put into practice than other kinds of relaxation.
Olga Mecking, author of Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing
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I want to say, in all seriousness, that a great deal of harm is being done in the modern world by belief in the virtuousness of work, and that the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work. [… Work] is emphatically not one of the ends of human life.
In Praise of Idleness, Bertrand Russell
Basic lingo for orientation.
- Niksen: Verbification of niks, Dutch for ‘nothing’. The practice of doing nothing as a means of relieving stress; idle activity, as staring into the trees or listening to music, with no purpose other than relaxation.
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How to break the ice and make a start.
- Make use of life’s natural pauses, such as a bus ride, for Niksen.
- Schedule dedicated Niksen time.
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Further reading.
- Escape the grind with “niksen,” the Dutch art of doing nothing – Big Think
- Why ‘doing nothing, intentionally’ is good for us: The rise of the slow living movement – BBC Culture
- The Dutch solution to busyness that captivated the world – BBC Travel
- Can Doing Nothing Unlock Your Decision-Making Superpowers? | Psychology Today
- The Secret Power of Idleness | Psychology Today
- People just do nothing: is the Dutch concept of niksen the best way to relax? | Mindfulness | The Guardian
- The art of doing nothing: have the Dutch found the answer to burnout culture? | Netherlands | The Guardian
- The life sabbatical: is doing absolutely nothing the secret of happiness? | Life and style | The Guardian
- The Case for Doing Nothing – The New York Times
- Everything About Niksen, The Dutch Concept of Doing Nothing | TIME
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The parts of the brain that come “online” when you are doing nothing are called the Default Mode Network. Research finds that the Default Mode Network is also activated by intense aesthetic experiences. This draws an interesting line between our ability to do nothing and our ability to derive aesthetic pleasure from the world around us.
The brain on art: intense aesthetic experience activates the default mode network
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What is the difference between Niksen and meditation?
While meditation is essentially about stopping your mind from wandering, Niksen is about letting your mind wander.
What are the benefits of Niksen?
Niksen can reduce stress and improve well-being.
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Never put off till to-morrow; what you can do day after to-morrow.
Mark Twain, The Galaxy
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| Activities | |
|---|---|
| Fields | Personal Development, Spirituality, Sustainability, Wellbeing |
| Locations | Anywhere, Beach, Coffee Shop, Community Center, Countryside, Farm, Forest, Garden, Home, Lake, Mountain, Nature, Outdoor, Park, River, Sea |
| Participants | |
| Skills | Active Listening, Adaptability, Analytical Thinking, Attention to Detail, Attention to Health, Communication, Concentration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Decision-making, Divergent Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Imagination, Innovation, Lateral Thinking, Logical Reasoning, Memory, Mindfulness, Musical Ability, Patience, Perseverance, Problem Solving, Time Management |