If you don't know what niksen is, in simple terms it is a Dutch concept of well-being, meaning “doing nothing.” Nixen is not new, but it is once again becoming a welcome antidote to our increasingly busy and stressful lives. In fact, studios are already opening where this art is taught.
ContentWhat is niksen in general? What is niksen as a stress buster? How to add niksen to your workflow Look out the window Play with accessories Try the No Phone challenge on your way to work
If this seems stupid to you, think about it. The average person has up to 60,000 thoughts per day, 80% of which are negative and 95% are repetitive thoughts from the day before. Shutting off this relentless stream of thoughts for a few minutes not only gives your brain a break. This can create space for clarity and fresh thinking and improve your mood. WomanEL will tell you how to use niksen in your work.
What is niksen in general?
First there was hygge, the Danish concept that makes staying home and feeling cozy cool. Then there was lag, the Swedish approach to life based on the principle of “everything in moderation.” Now there's another Northern European trend that's being hailed as a way to combat our increasingly busy and often stressful lives: niksen.
Niksen “literally means to do nothing, to idle, or to do something useless.” This is according to Caroline Hamming, managing director of CSR Centrum, a coaching center in the Netherlands that helps clients manage stress and recover from burnout. Practicing niksen can be as simple as just taking a walk, looking at your surroundings or listening to music – “as long as it has no purpose”, is not done in order to achieve something or be productive.
In time niksen you should not scroll pages on your phone or watch TV, as this involves a conscious action. Meditation is a little different from niksen because it requires intention. In the same way, awareness requires concentration, and niksen, on the contrary, requires being mindless.
What is niksen as a means of combating stress?
In the Netherlands, niksen has historically been considered laziness or the opposite of productivity. But as stress levels rise around the world and its devastating health consequences, such as burnout, become increasingly recognized by the medical community, inactivity is increasingly being embraced as a positive stress management tactic.
The research is compelling when it comes to the benefits of slowing down, from emotional benefits like reducing anxiety to physical benefits like slowing the aging process and strengthening the body's ability to deal with stress. These potential health consequences may be enough to prompt even the most anxious and overwhelmed among us to consider making time for the practice of niksen.
Another benefit of niksen is that it can help people come up with new ideas. Even when we're not doing anything, our brains are still processing information and can use available processing power to solve unsolved problems. Which, in turn, can increase creativity. This may manifest itself as a breakthrough solution to a problem while walking or a great business idea that emerges while daydreaming.
Research also supports the idea that performing simple tasks that allow your mind to wander can promote creative problem solving, even improving your ability to solve a problem you may have been stuck on before. A 2013 study on the pros and cons of a wandering mind, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, found that the process can help a person become inspired to achieve their goals and gain clarity about the actions they need to take to achieve those goals.
How to add niksen to your workflow
When we have a lot to do, we can feel guilty about productivity if we take time to relax. However, we shouldn't feel guilty: it's really important to take time to do nothing.
To prepare for a niksen at work, schedule it at a specific time. Most people need a break from screens after 45 minutes. Set Do Not Disturb on your devices and calendar, and explain to your colleagues why you won't be available for the next few minutes. Wearing headphones with or without sound can be a helpful way to stay calm. Start small, one to three minutes. If your brain starts to think, just acknowledge it and then let it go.
Look out the window< /h3>
The classic “do nothing” activity allows you to people-watch, spot clouds, or play raindrop race (cheer for your chosen droplet as rain trickles down the window pane). Skygazing has even been given the name “skyology,” a term coined by psychological coach Paul Conway, whose research has shown that gazing at the sky can instantly calm, broaden one's mind, and induce awe—a state that can increase prosocial engagement.
Play with accessories
Write randomly in a notepad; twirl the ruler and listen carefully to the sound (although this may draw too much attention to your niksen practice and potentially annoy neighboring colleagues).
Try the “No Phone” task on the way to work
Force yourself to make the entire commute without using or looking at your phone: don't listen to music or podcasts, don't look at social media, don't answer simple emails while waiting for the train.
If your burnout is high, there are some tips to help you cope with stress.