THE ART OF DOING NOTHING: THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF NIKSEN

NIksen is the "New Mindfulness"

The Art of Doing Nothing: The Dutch Concept of Niksen

A year or so ago, I decided it was time to learn to read Dutch. I had made stumbling attempts to read 17th Century Dutch texts for current academic research project but finally had decided that it was time to learn Dutch. I studied German in high school, college, and in Germany at the Goethe Institut. Dutch is from the same language family as German and English, so I figured I had a bit of a head start on learning it. I began with Duolingo app and a few “teach yourself” Dutch books.

Somewhere along the way and I am not sure exactly when, where, or how, I ran across an article in Dutch on niksen, the Dutch art of doing nothing, on the online page of the Dutch Magazine, Gezond Nu. I figured the Dutch infinitive, niksen,was something like doing nichts (nothing in German.) The article I found by the reporter, Gebke Verhoeven, is entitled, “Doing nothing is healthy! For this reason, doing nothing is the new mindfulness.” The subtitle of the article is, “We cram our free time so full that we don't have a minute left to just do nothing. Is that a bad thing? Yes, that's bad.” In her article, Verhoeven also uses the ideas of nikstijd (literally non-time, roughly translated as idleness) and niks te doen (doing nothing). Verhoeven writes:

We often try to solve lack of time by working more efficiently. The problem is that the time you gain automatically fills up again…The only way to really save time is to make choices. Don't do more but leave more. Crossing things out.” (Niet meer doen, maar meer laten. Wegstrepen.)¹

At the time, I was not able to read the article with any sort of fluency. After a year of learning Dutch, I find that I can read most of the article on my own. Now, however, my focus is not on reading the Dutch per se, but on the concept of nixsen and what it might mean to me in my life in the present.

In the opening pages of the book, Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing, Olga Mecking describes how she reacted when she read the same article by Gebke Verhoeven:

I loved the idea and remember thinking: Cool, finally someone is telling me it’s ok to do nothing. Now that is a wellness trend I can get behind.²

I am the last person who should be writing on doing nothing. My mind is like a browser with a thousand tabs open at the same time, each one vying for my attention. In the age of retirement, I am finally beginning to understand how hyperactive I am. In other words, I am the last person who should be telling you about doing nothing. After all, I instead of doing nothing, I am working on writing about it, in place of doing it. But, if I can learn from the idea of niksen, perhaps you can too.

The Problem with Doing Too Much

We're constantly bombarded with messages telling us to be more productive, accomplish more, and achieve more. We often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of overcommitting, multitasking, and burnout. This relentless drive for productivity can lead to feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, and disconnection from our own needs and desires. The concept of niksenchallenges traditional notions of success and encourages us to rethink our relationship with time.

The Benefits of Doing Nothing

Embracing niksen can have numerous benefits for our mental and emotional well-being. By giving ourselves permission to do nothing, we:

1. Recharge and refocus: Niksen allows us to slow down, relax, and recharge our batteries. This downtime enables us to clear our minds, prioritize our tasks, and approach challenges with renewed energy and clarity.

2. Discover new interests: Without the pressure of constant busyness, we're more likely to find ways of being in the world that bring joy and fulfillment.

3. Cultivate mindfulness: Niksen encourages us to be present in the moment, observing our thoughts, emotions, and surroundings without judgment. This increased mindfulness can lead to greater self-awareness, compassion, and inner peace.

4. Reduce stress and anxiety: By letting go of the need for constant productivity, we alleviate ourselves from the pressure of meeting expectations and achieving perfection. Niksen helps us develop a more realistic and gentle relationship with ourselves.

Embracing Niksen in Modern Life

Incorporating niksen into our daily lives can be as simple as:

1. Taking physical and mental breaks: Schedule regular downtime, whether it's a short walk, meditation session, or simply sitting quietly. Set aside a screen-free time of day. Be aware of your emotions. Social media sites spend vast sums of money figuring out how to command your attention. Take a breath and step away.

2. Learning to say no: Set boundaries and prioritize your own needs, rather than overcommitting to others' expectations.

3. Engaging in leisure activities: Make time for hobbies, reading, or creative pursuits that bring you joy and relaxation.

Conclusion

In a world where productivity is often equated with success, it's refreshing to consider the value of doing nothing. By embracing niksen, we can cultivate a healthier relationship with our time, prioritize our well-being, and discover new paths to fulfillment.³

1. Gebke Verhoeven, “Niksen is gezond! Om deze reden is niksen het nieuwe mindfulness,” https://gezondnu.nl/psyche/niksen-het-nieuwe-mindfulness/. The Dutch to English translations in this post are mine.

2. Olga Mecking, Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing. Houghton Mifflin, 2021.

3. See also, Annette Lavrijsen, Niksen: The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing. White Lion Publishing, 2020.