‘Niksen’: The Dutch way to help fight stress

Published on Thu Aug 27 2020 in Lifestyle

We Kiwis are generally a happy bunch, but many of us are feeling stressed out. A recent Gallup poll found that 31 percent of New Zealanders said they felt some stress or worry the day before answering the survey1. At the same time, stats have also found that on-the-job stress is rising, with nearly 24 percent of businesses saying their employees were feeling more stress2.

Regardless of where this stress is coming from – work, home, finances or family – you may be looking for ways to help maintain your mental health. For this, many are looking to the Dutch for a bit of inspiration.

What is niksen?

Niksen is a Dutch idea that means “to do something without a purpose”. This might be staring out a window, taking a slow walk or listening to music. As long as the activity has no end goal, it fits the spirit of niksen.

This may sound a bit like mindfulness, another trend that’s become popular in recent years. However, these two practices are different. While mindfulness asks people to focus on the present moment, niksen is just about being there. You’re encouraged to let your mind wander – or even think of nothing at all!

How niksen might improve your life

The idea of niksen might be hard for some people to wrap their head around. In cultures where productivity and multitasking are celebrated, doing something just for the joy of it may feel like a waste of time or like you’re being lazy. However, slowing down from time to time could have its benefits.

Niksen is generally about relaxing, an activity that’s important to giving our lives balance. Too much work, both in our careers and homes, often leads to stress and burnout. Making time for the things that make us happy – or even doing nothing at all – could give us time to reset, clear our minds and face tomorrow more refreshed.

Focusing on nothing could also boost creativity, help with problem solving or strengthen our personalities. Some research has shown that slowing down could also help improve physical wellbeing, from maintaining a healthy immune system to helping us look and feel younger3!

Doing nothing for the joy of it

Maybe the best thing about niksen is that it’s easy to get started. You don’t need any special apps or fancy equipment to practice. All you really need is a bit of time to yourself, even if that’s just a few minutes each day.

In fact, starting small may be the easiest way to make “doing nothing” part of your routine. Try setting your alarm five minutes early in the morning, then lying in bed and taking a few deep breaths. That’s it – you’re practicing niksen!

Other ways to get started might include:

  • Watching the clouds from your back garden
  • Playing a game on your smartphone or tablet
  • Drawing on a piece of paper, like you did when you were a kid
  • People watching at the park
  • Listening to music while doing nothing else
  • Letting your mind wander in line at the shops
  • Quietly drinking a cuppa at the kitchen table

Niksen can really be done anywhere or at any time. And though it may seem silly at first or go against your personal work ethic, slowing down from time to time could lead to a happier and healthier life.

So set aside some time during your day for “nothing”. You might be glad that you did!

For more ways to help beat stress, try these 10 simple ways of practicing self-care.

About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.

1. RNZ, World is angry, stressed, but New Zealanders mostly happy, says Gallup report, 27 April 2019
2. NZ Herald, Workplace stress on the rise, new survey says, 22 August 2019
3. Time, Niksen Is the Dutch Lifestyle Concept of Doing Nothing—And You’re About to See It Everywhere, 12 July 2019

 

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