The Importance Of Doing Nothing

We’ve been forced to slow down because of the global pandemic – and perhaps this gentler pace is just what we need

- Carolyn Tate

If there's one thing lockdown has forced most of us to do it’s to slow down. You might still be busy with home-schooling and cooking and cleaning, but that frenetic rushing around between home and school and work and extramural activities and gym and doctors’ appointments – it’s just not happening anymore.

We’ve unexpectedly been thrown into the Dutch practice of niksen. Put simply, niksen is the practice of doing nothing– or of doing something without a sense of purpose, such as staring out the window or listening to music.

It sounds simple, but for many of us who are used to ticking off lists and achieving goals, niksen can be a challenge. Lockdown is the perfect opportunity to learn to practice it however and to reap the many rewards it can have for our mental health.

THE UPSIDE OF NOTHING

Experts say niksen offers long-term health benefits, from stress relief to boosting creativity, and converts say they sleep better and handle stress more effectively throughout the day.

Chronic stress is all around us, and with burnout a real possibility in a fast-paced life, niksen is a coping technique that might actually help.

With niksen, the idea is to be intentional about doing nothing at all. “You’re taking the time to sit there and not do anything on purpose,” is how Netherlands-based journalist Olga Mecking described niksen to NBC News. “You could be gazing out a window, but you’re not observing your thoughts or letting them go or doing anything like that. You’re just being.”

THE NEED FOR NOTHING