Niksen: the Dutch lifestyle trend that celebrates doing nothing

When we’re constantly being bombarded with instructions to ‘get that bread’ and ‘hustle hard’, it might seem counterproductive to suggest that we, instead, don’t do anything. But in the Netherlands, niksen is becoming a buzzword for taking healthy periods of time to achieve nothing. It literally translates as ‘doing nothing’. Historically, it has come with negative connotations of laziness, but recently, the practice of niksen is claimed to be rife with emotional and physical benefits.

Why might we need niksen?

A primary school teacher I discussed this with strongly agreed that young children in particular should learn to be comfortable doing nothing. She believes that by parents, and sometimes teachers, thinking they constantly need to be entertained or occupied, “they don’t create their own amusement. Whether that’s making up games, stories, or just daydreaming”. She commented on a noticeable lack of imagination when the children were given creative tasks, with short stories tending to be replicas of current popular television shows.

In both younger people and adults, doing nothing is said to promote the formation of ideas. Whilst you might seem to be passive, your brain, whether consciously or unconsciously, remains occupied. It may problem solve in the background, causing you to suddenly understand something you struggled with previously when simply out for a walk. Storylines can be created from people watching, daydreaming, looking out of a window and just observing.

When can you practice niksen?

Admittedly, student life can be hectic. You probably already have lots of commitments which require your time, without then having to allow for purposefully doing nothing. However, there are pockets of time during everyone’s day that might be ideal, for example, bus journeys to and from university. We often think, ‘how can we fill this time?’ But how about just looking out the window? Daydreaming? Areas of study you might not have fully grasped during the day on campus might finally click, or your casual reflections might illuminate a fresh perspective. Likewise, during those five minutes or so spent waiting outside a lecture hall when you’ve been unable to spot your coursemates, instead of self-consciously lurching for your phone, you could do nothing at all. Let your mind wander. Perhaps you’ll notice things you hadn’t before about the subject, the other people on your course, or even a painting on the wall. In both these examples, there isn’t much that you can be doing, so if you’re reluctant to actually carve out time to practice niksen, these could be perfect opportunities to try it out.

What are the benefits?

Ruut Veenhoven, a sociologist and professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is a forerunner in the promotion of niksen. His studies of happiness lead him to believe that doing nothing, or even doing semi-automatic activities such as knitting, can significantly reduce anxiety. The heart rate is allowed to slow and the negative effects of stress on the body are also lessened, including reduced signs of aging and increased immunity. Only five to ten minutes a day are said to be required to notice a difference in your mental and physical health.

However, naturally, it is possible to practice niksen to excess. In order to feel contented and fulfilled, we cannot always do nothing. Productivity is also necessary to feel happy, so balancing niksen with an active lifestyle would be best. This essentially comes back to the ancient idea of all things in moderation, a theory dating back to Aristotle and recently made popular again with the Swedish mindset of lagom. Perhaps set aside a time for doing nothing at the beginning or end of your otherwise busy day, or practice niksen in times of waiting. Relax in the knowledge that you don’t always have to occupy yourself – in fact, it might be better if you don’t.