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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
One of the happiest countries in the world
- The Netherlands is regularly placed in polls as one of the top five happiest countries in the world. It makes you wonder: is there something they do differently?
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
One of the happiest countries in the world
- While there are numerous cultural norms and social incentives that contribute towards this sense of well-being, one concept is surprisingly simple.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Embracing life's breaks
- Could it be because in the Netherlands the culture leans towards embracing life's breaks, allowing themselves to be happier and more relaxed?
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
"Niksen" means nothing
- "Niksen" is a Dutch word that means doing nothing. It can mean completing a task without a purpose or goal in mind, but the outcome is simple: there isn't one.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
"Niksen" means nothing
- It literally means doing something for the sake of doing it. There is no goal or purpose in mind; you can simply just be in the moment.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Examples of niksen
- Staring out the window at what's happening below, people watching, listening to music, or going to the beach to watch the waves are all examples of niksen.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Examples of niksen
- These activities might not add something tangible or material to your life, but by engaging with niksen you can reach a state of calm or tranquility.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Getting back in tune with life
- By taking a break from your daily struggles to allow yourself time to do nothing, you can get back in tune with the rhythm of life that exists outside your own mind and worries.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
A break from burnout
- Burnout and stress culture with their incessant demands leave a sense of no matter how hard you work, it's "never enough."
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
A break from burnout
- Continually striving and hitting a brick wall of more to do, without a sense of satisfaction or progress, is what leads to feeling burnt out.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Managing stress
- The more you do, the more there is to do. This can lead to feelings of despair. In order to help manage this stress, why not carve out time to do something for no reason at all?
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Differences with mindfulness
- Where mindfulness is about being present in the current moment, niksen is about carving out time to just be, letting your mind wander rather than trying to focus.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Relaxation
- Moments of relaxation, or relaxation combined with a semi-automatic activity such as knitting, singing, dancing, or playing with pets are also examples of embracing niksen.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Creativity boosting
- One of the big benefits of embracing niksen is the huge boost it can provide to our creativity. Relaxation allows us to get into a flow state.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Creativity boosting
- In order for new ideas and creative solutions to emerge in our minds, they need space. Burnout is the opposite of the flow state, where creativity prospers.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Problem solving
- Even when our mind is at rest, it's processing information. The space created by niksen allows the brain to use its available processing power to solve problems.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Problem solving
- Research has shown that doing simple tasks allows the mind to wander, helping people become more inspired. This is why you might hear of someone having a breakthrough in the shower or on a walk.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Historically dismissed
- In the Netherlands, niksen wasn't always popular. In fact, historically it was dismissed as laziness or the opposite of being productive.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Wellness culture
- However, the health impacts of stress are becoming increasingly more apparent and are being recognized by the medical community. With this, there is a shift towards embracing wellness.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Health benefits
- Research is strong when it comes to the health benefits of slowing down. It has emotional perks, such as fighting anxiety.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Health benefits
- But it has physical benefits, too, which include slowing down the aging process and strengthening the body's immune system.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
How to begin
- If you're used to constantly filling your time with goal-reaching activities, it might feel uneasy to practice niksen at first.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Dare to be idle
- Start small and build up your time spent embracing niksen. Push through the initial discomfort and dare to be idle to reap the benefits.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Proceed with caution
- It's unwise to go into niksen for the wrong reasons, thinking it will solve all your productivity and creative blocks. Remember the point of it is to not have an outcome or goal.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Starting small
- Perhaps a good 'gateway' to niksen is by writing a gratitude list, letting your mind wander as you complete it, or taking a short walk in nature.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Too much of a good thing
- Like everything, niksen should be practiced in moderation. Too much rest can be demotivating, leading to a lack of direction and achievement.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Beware of rumination
- If you let your mind wander for far too long, you can get caught up in ruminations and thinking about the past, which doesn't leave anyone feeling refreshed.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Balance
- As with all things in life, there's a fine balance to be struck between doing nothing for the sake of it, and working to achieve goals.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Happiness and productivity
- There's a link between productivity, happiness, and relaxation. Practicing idle time between bursts of activity can help your overall well-being and creativity to flourish. Sources: (Time) (The Guardian) (DutchReview) (BBC Travel) See also: https://www.starsinsider.com/lifestyle/501500/poolside-precautions-what-to-avoid-for-a-safe-swim
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
One of the happiest countries in the world
- The Netherlands is regularly placed in polls as one of the top five happiest countries in the world. It makes you wonder: is there something they do differently?
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
One of the happiest countries in the world
- While there are numerous cultural norms and social incentives that contribute towards this sense of well-being, one concept is surprisingly simple.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Embracing life's breaks
- Could it be because in the Netherlands the culture leans towards embracing life's breaks, allowing themselves to be happier and more relaxed?
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
"Niksen" means nothing
- "Niksen" is a Dutch word that means doing nothing. It can mean completing a task without a purpose or goal in mind, but the outcome is simple: there isn't one.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
"Niksen" means nothing
- It literally means doing something for the sake of doing it. There is no goal or purpose in mind; you can simply just be in the moment.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Examples of niksen
- Staring out the window at what's happening below, people watching, listening to music, or going to the beach to watch the waves are all examples of niksen.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Examples of niksen
- These activities might not add something tangible or material to your life, but by engaging with niksen you can reach a state of calm or tranquility.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Getting back in tune with life
- By taking a break from your daily struggles to allow yourself time to do nothing, you can get back in tune with the rhythm of life that exists outside your own mind and worries.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
A break from burnout
- Burnout and stress culture with their incessant demands leave a sense of no matter how hard you work, it's "never enough."
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
A break from burnout
- Continually striving and hitting a brick wall of more to do, without a sense of satisfaction or progress, is what leads to feeling burnt out.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Managing stress
- The more you do, the more there is to do. This can lead to feelings of despair. In order to help manage this stress, why not carve out time to do something for no reason at all?
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Differences with mindfulness
- Where mindfulness is about being present in the current moment, niksen is about carving out time to just be, letting your mind wander rather than trying to focus.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Relaxation
- Moments of relaxation, or relaxation combined with a semi-automatic activity such as knitting, singing, dancing, or playing with pets are also examples of embracing niksen.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Creativity boosting
- One of the big benefits of embracing niksen is the huge boost it can provide to our creativity. Relaxation allows us to get into a flow state.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Creativity boosting
- In order for new ideas and creative solutions to emerge in our minds, they need space. Burnout is the opposite of the flow state, where creativity prospers.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Problem solving
- Even when our mind is at rest, it's processing information. The space created by niksen allows the brain to use its available processing power to solve problems.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Problem solving
- Research has shown that doing simple tasks allows the mind to wander, helping people become more inspired. This is why you might hear of someone having a breakthrough in the shower or on a walk.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Historically dismissed
- In the Netherlands, niksen wasn't always popular. In fact, historically it was dismissed as laziness or the opposite of being productive.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Wellness culture
- However, the health impacts of stress are becoming increasingly more apparent and are being recognized by the medical community. With this, there is a shift towards embracing wellness.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Health benefits
- Research is strong when it comes to the health benefits of slowing down. It has emotional perks, such as fighting anxiety.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Health benefits
- But it has physical benefits, too, which include slowing down the aging process and strengthening the body's immune system.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
How to begin
- If you're used to constantly filling your time with goal-reaching activities, it might feel uneasy to practice niksen at first.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Dare to be idle
- Start small and build up your time spent embracing niksen. Push through the initial discomfort and dare to be idle to reap the benefits.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Proceed with caution
- It's unwise to go into niksen for the wrong reasons, thinking it will solve all your productivity and creative blocks. Remember the point of it is to not have an outcome or goal.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Starting small
- Perhaps a good 'gateway' to niksen is by writing a gratitude list, letting your mind wander as you complete it, or taking a short walk in nature.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Too much of a good thing
- Like everything, niksen should be practiced in moderation. Too much rest can be demotivating, leading to a lack of direction and achievement.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Beware of rumination
- If you let your mind wander for far too long, you can get caught up in ruminations and thinking about the past, which doesn't leave anyone feeling refreshed.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Balance
- As with all things in life, there's a fine balance to be struck between doing nothing for the sake of it, and working to achieve goals.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Happiness and productivity
- There's a link between productivity, happiness, and relaxation. Practicing idle time between bursts of activity can help your overall well-being and creativity to flourish. Sources: (Time) (The Guardian) (DutchReview) (BBC Travel) See also: https://www.starsinsider.com/lifestyle/501500/poolside-precautions-what-to-avoid-for-a-safe-swim
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
The Dutch art of doing absolutely nothing
Pitch this to your boss and see what happens!
© Shutterstock
In today's world of productivity hacks and 'maximizing' your time, the focus seems to be on squeezing every last drop out of our days. Enter "niksen," the perfect antidote to doing all the things. This Dutch word describes the practice of doing absolutely nothing, or partaking in an activity that has no purpose or goal attached. It's a way to simply be in the moment, and not feel bad about being completely unproductive. The irony is, of course, that reaching this state does serve a purpose: its opposition to burnout and stress culture.
Intrigued? Click on to learn about this Dutch concept.
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