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First, there was hygge, the Danish concept of cosiness and conviviality that results in contentment and overall well-being. Then came lagom, the Swedish notion of moderation and balanced living. Now, it’s all about niksen, the Dutch art of doing nothing, or being idle, as a way to relieve stress.
It’s harder than it sounds, given that most societies – particularly Asian ones – associate productivity and being busy with success. But according to niksen, purposeless activities such as staring out the window, chilling with a cup of coffee, or listening to music are meant to help us slow down and break out of the inexorable rat race, thus giving our minds an opportunity to recharge and reset.
This can seem like an excuse to be lazy, but in fact niksen is a way to prevent burnout. By pausing to take a deep breath, we are preventing ourselves from being consumed by work and the demands of life.
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Is niksen achievable in Singapore?
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We are all on board for niksen. Who wouldn’t love some quiet time to tune out and be present? But it does seem rather indulgent, especially in a society like Singapore, where everything moves at breakneck speed and our schedules are usually jam-packed with meetings, errands, and work. Our inbox and text messages always command our attention, and everything is a priority.
Even the thought of taking a breather makes us feel guilty. Should I be wasting my time being idle? Shouldn’t I be checking something off my to-do list?
Then again, isn’t it time for us to break free of our relentless pursuit of productivity and societal expectations, and care for our mental well-being instead?
“Work can be relentless sometimes, particularly in my line” says Sarah*, 30, an auditor at a major auditing firm. “But I think there is a societal shift in focus on mental health now. Niksen is a very appealing concept, one that I would get behind, if I can break out of that workaholic mindset.”
Indeed, niksen is a way to slow down and exercise mindfulness, but unlike meditating, we’re zoning out instead of zoning in.
How to incorporate niksen into everyday life
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Ready to give niksen a shot? Here’s how you can start.
1. Put down your phone
We’re all guilty of reaching for our phones when we’re bored, but instead of diving into the black hole of social media for mindless entertainment, try to be present in the moment, wherever you are. Keep some distance between you and your phone so you don’t get distracted by those notifications.
2. Avoid your inbox
Productivity can give us a good shot of satisfaction, and getting pesky emails out of the way can seem like a time-saver. But all it does is steal minutes of your free time without you realising it. The point of niksen is to try not to accomplish anything, so whatever you do, don’t get tempted to refresh your inbox or reply to emails.
3. Listen to some music
The best way to tune out, quite literally, is by plugging in to your favourite playlist or podcast. Allow yourself that pocket of time to fully immerse in music, which studies have shown help the brain to rewire and recharge.
4. Meditate
Meditation helps to clear our minds and catch a breather from reality. Take some time to enjoy the silence and soon you’ll learn to enjoy your zen hour. Can’t sit still for more than five minutes? Quick meditation can be as effective.
5. Go for a walk
The benefits of physical activity on our mood have been well documented. Not only does a leisurely stroll get those serotonin pumping and put us in a more relaxed mood, it can also help to clear our thoughts and make us feel more recharged.
Check other new living trends you should follow to live your best life:
https://www.herworld.com/life/wellness-happiness-niksen-singapore-stress-relief/
Here are the living trends you should follow to live your best life
Meraki
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From: Athens
Mary Poppins said it best: “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and the job’s a game.”
Derived from the Turkish word merak (which translates to labour of love), the Greek concept of meraki is to do things with love, passion, soul, and enthusiasm.
It’s working eagerly and taking pride in our work.
It is the idea that work — and devoting ourselves to our work with a degree of meticulousness and conscientiousness — can bring us pleasure and pride, and dedicating our soul to the task, whatever it may be, makes us happier doing it.
Perhaps meraki is what will save us from the Monday blues.
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Hygge
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From: Denmark
This Scandinavian country has consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, and the answer might lie in the concept of hygge.
The hygge approach to life involves finding happiness and contentment through simple moments and simple things. Danes prioritise breaks in their daily lives to fully relax and recharge.
They mindfully take a moment to pause, spend quality time with their loved ones, or take care of themselves. Hygge, they believe, leads to lykke (happiness).
To create a hyggelig (hygge-like) atmosphere, light candles, pull up some throw blankets and snuggle up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate. Hygge is all about simple pleasures, not chasing trends, being glued to your phone, or blind consumerism.
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Niksen
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From: the Netherlands
Hailing from yet another one of the happiest countries in the world, the concept of niksen is a stress-reducing practice that literally means doing nothing. This could mean doing something – anything – without a specific purpose, such as listening to music or staring out the window.
It’s about allowing yourself to be idle and letting your mind wander without feeling guilt or having any expectation.
This art of doing nothing is a way to slow down and take a breather instead of constantly thinking about your to-do list or moving from one task to another.
In our fast-paced modern society, this concept comes as a welcome reprieve from our conventional expectations about work and productivity. Instead of being “on” all the time, niksen espouses flicking the “off” switch from time to time in order to return to a state of inner peace.
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Ikigai
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From: Okinawa, Japan
Japanese society as a whole might not be the happiest in the world, but Okinawans seem to be doing something right. Not only are they one of the longest-living people in the world, they also seem happy and fulfilled.
And the reason for that might be ikigai, or the reason for getting up every morning. It is the Japanese counterpart to raison d’être, since iki means to live and gai means reason.
Ikigai is about living a life of meaning and finding your life’s purpose in order to be happy.
The sweet spot is where your passion, skills (what you can offer the world) and what the world needs collide.
Okinawans don’t believe in retiring – they continue to challenge themselves even after they’ve found their purpose in life, pursuing and nurturing it.
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Lagom
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From: Sweden
In a nutshell, lagom is all about being in the Goldilocks Zone: not too little or too much, but just right.
It encourages leading a better life by having or doing everything in moderation, and by thinking of the community instead of the individual.
Lagom is a reflection of the Swedish values of equality, fairness, teamwork, and modesty.
In practise, lagom influences every aspect of Swedish life: from furniture (think IKEA’s minimalist designs) to work-life balance to food (the tradition of fika involves having coffee twice a day with friends) to consumption (eating just enough to feel full).
To the Swedish, balance is key — and it is the key to happiness.
Lagom is not a state to achieve, but an ongoing process of being content with ourselves and others.
Instead of individual pursuits, excess and decadence, it focuses on communal values, which is also why Swedes are mindful of their environmental footprint and being close to nature.
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Wabi-Sabi
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From: Japan
Another concept from the land of Zen, wabi-sabi found its roots in Zen Buddhism.
Wabi is the appreciation of imperfection or irregular beauty in things, places, and moments we tend to overlook.
Sabi is about embracing the passage of time, be it in terms of damaged objects or growing old.
Wabi-sabi advocates modest living, quiet observation, and enjoying nature – rather than trying to attain perfection, particularly what the media promotes.
It’s about accepting yourself, imperfections and all, being satisfied with what you have and thus achieving peace of mind.
The wabi-sabi aesthetic is about minimalism and furniture made of natural materials such as wood. The concept also gave rise to kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with powdered gold or silver, turning breakage and flaws into beauty.
The philosophy is to regard flaws as part of an object and breakage as part of its history, instead of something to disguise and conceal.
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Wu Wei
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From: China
This ancient Taoist principle is all about inaction. But wuwei is not about being lazy or negligent. Rather, it’s about letting go and embracing the flow.
It propounds spontaneity and effortless action rather than struggling to change one’s course of life or rushing into things one isn’t ready for.
Chinese philosopher Confucius is a well-known practitioner and advocate of this concept.
He subscribed to the belief that everything happens at the right time and our role is to just follow the natural order of things, to trust in the timing of things and not try to alter or speed up our journey.
That way, when it’s finally time for us to take action, we can be more strategic and precise, yielding more effective results.
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*Names have been changed.
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