OfBeatrice Tagliapietra
Journalist and blogger Olga Mecking, author of an article in the New York Times that went around the world, talks about the book “Niksen: Embracing The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing”. «The art of Niksen helps you free yourself from pressure: it is not idleness, but an art, relaxing without guilt »
In recent years the term Niksen has gone viral in the Netherlands and has started to make its way to the rest of the world too. It literally means “to do nothing”, but not it consists in simple idleness or in abandoning oneself to laziness: it is a real art, a new frontier of personal well-being, and consists of relax without guilt. Practicing Niksen means believing in the power of the pause as a response to the culture of burnout in which we often get lost. The concept was explored for the first time outside the Dutch borders by the journalist and blogger Olga Mecking, author of an article published in the New York Times that went around the world and, in 2020, of the book Niksen: Embracing The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing. Olga Mecking analyzes today’s world and the need felt by many to act, driven by
constant need to do and achieve certain objectiveswhether large or small, inviting his readers to “not set goals for every action you take”.
Niksen’s art helps to free oneself from this pressure, working on the pure pleasure of living in the moment. Letting go of the result, doing something for the simple sake of doing it, eat to eat, walk to stay in contact with nature, not to lose weight or reach 10,000 daily steps reported by your smartphone. This is an idea that today seems almost counterintuitive: consciously dedicating yourself to doing nothing productive, letting your mind wander free removing the discomfort that may result. Stop and appreciate the present moment, abandon the rush, not think about the usefulness of our actions, do something (or do nothing) to enjoy the moment. Nothing more. Recovering this pleasure can also be important for improving your overall well-being. Slowing down and finding inner calm can reduce stress and anxiety, stimulate creativity, improve concentration and increase happiness by freeing us from the burden of forced productivity. Rediscovering the simple art of doing nothing is not trivial and requires constant practice because stopping can be difficult, but sometimes, it is necessary.
April 22, 2024 (modified April 22, 2024 | 1:28 pm)
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