Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing

by Olga Mecking

niksen is “doing something without a purpose, like staring out of a window, hanging out, or listening to music.”

One of the reasons niksen is so hard is because we feel ashamed when we engage in activities

that are apparently less productive. We assign less value to activities that might be considered a waste of time, such as gazing out of the window, sitting still, or looking around the room, than we do to work. Activities that don’t immediately yield results are therefore difficult for us to engage in. It’s very hard for us to see value in doing nothing, mostly in light of all the things that don’t get done while we do niks.

Niksen is downtime, quiet time, finding a moment to unwind and relax, and maybe reflect a little.

Choose calming colors like blue or green

Place furniture around a window or a fireplace rather than a TV.

Listen to Music

Create Something

Play!

Go for a Walk

Organize your home so that it becomes niksen friendly. Comfy chairs, sofas, and reading nooks are great ways to help you ease into niksen time.