Feeling burnt out? You might need to learn about the Danish concept of 'niksen'

Feeling exhausted of late? Here's how to borrow the concept of niksen from the Dutch, which encourages you to do absolutely nothing.

By Aaron Kok - 11 Jan 2024

Share this article

Hands up if you've been feeling tired, frazzled, or teetering on burning out. You're likely not alone.

A study from Future Forum in 2023 found that since the middle of 2020, burnout has been on the rise. While it affects all ages and genders, the study has also found that a majority of respondents indicating burnout fall in the Gen Z and Millennials age group, whilst women also reported higher levels of exhaustion. Suffice to say, we're all tired.

And that's not surprising either, especially at the tail end of the year. With all the festive prep, covering of your colleagues who are on leave, and the gearing up of prep for the new year, there's just far too much to do and think about for a physical or mental break.

Which is why we love the 'niksen' lifestyle. Borrowing this concept from the Dutch, niksen encourages you to do absolutely nothing – no, not even the bare minimum. Here's how you get into it.

What is niksen?

Credit: Pexels

1/7

The word niksen is used by the Dutch to describe a state of doing absolute zilch. That doesn't mean staring into blank space – though that is one way, but we'll get to that in a bit – but rather, doing or thinking without intention.

In our fast-paced lives, where everything has a mission or goal, and a timeline, niksen encourages everyone to potter around without the constant yearning and stress of achieving something. It's all about letting your mind wander, setting intention away for a while, and floating through a thought or action without any real road map.

As burnout rates continue to climb globally, the adoption of niksen as a lifestyle trend has been reframed as a positive way of coping and relieving stress. It encourages a slower speed, which can help manage anxiety, and allows the body and mind to check out even for a few minutes.

Is it anything like mindfulness?

Credit: Pexels

2/7

It's not entirely interlinked. Mindfulness still requires some targeted thinking that ultimately leads to calmness, whereas niksen encourages a blank slate in one's mind. Think of it this way: mindfulness helps you quieten a noisy mind and gain control of it. Niksen, on the other hand, clears the noise but lets the mind continuously meander from thought to thought.

The truth is that not everyone's going to get niksen right away, and that's why it takes practice. When one's mind is so accustomed to being fixated on a mental to-do list, the art of letting go can be surprisingly tricky.

With that, here are five ways you can practice niksen.

Take an unguided walk

3/7

Wellnesstok loves the concept of wellness walks, and to an extent, that can be applied in practicing niksen.

The difference here is that with the latter, you're walking without a real destination or route in mind. Spend about half an hour just wandering around in a park or along a quiet stretch of beach, allowing yourself to reconnect with nature. As thoughts fill your head, let it go without fixating on it.

Stay in a device-free zone

Credit: Freepik

4/7

Sometimes, you only have 10 minutes to do nothing. Make the most of it by clearing your space of devices that call for your immediate attention, such as phones, tablets or even smartwatches.

In that room, just stare out into space without thinking of time or what's next.

Engage in a repetitive activity, like knitting

Credit: Freepik

5/7

We know that the thought of knitting sounds counterproductive to the concept of doing nothing, but hear us out.

You know how when you're doing a repetitive action, your mind begins to wander as your body switches into a sort of autopilot mode? That's exactly what this is. Certain hobbies, like knitting or crocheting, employ a repeated action so even as you mentally start drifting off, your hands are still doing something calming and simple.

Cuddle a pet

Credit: Freepik

6/7

If you're a cat or dog owner, your furkid is likely already a pro at niksen. Take a cue from them by having them by you for a passive cuddle sesh. With gentle, repetitive strokes, your mind can continue to wander as your hand continues petting your furry companion.

Stare out a window

Credit: Freepik

7/7

Here's one sure way of bringing niksen everywhere with you: literally sit down, do nothing and stare out the window. Watch the world go by, even for a minute, and let your mind clear itself of the constant buzz.