(Newswire.net — June 27, 2023) — A few days off – and we’re already drawn to far-away places or we take on elaborate activities. Real relaxation usually doesn’t happen, and we could just take a nap or enjoy live dealer. What lies behind this trend?
In our free time, we are supposed to relax, forget our worries and simply switch off. Between work, crises and the many other little problems, everyday life is stressful enough.
But the reality is often different: We use our few days off for lavish trips and short vacations – and that’s usually where the stress really starts: Finding the right destination and the best time to travel is already time-consuming. On site, the program is added to this, because we want to experience as much as possible and not feel lazy. Not to mention the stress of traveling to and from the destination on crowded highways or in uncomfortable airplanes.
WHAT ABOUT THIS TREND
Why do we actually do all this? Why don’t we just do nothing more often in our scarce free time?
Niksen – just “doing nothing”? Instead of stressing ourselves out even more with all kinds of different concepts in search of relaxation, we could simply use the time to do as little as possible and let our thoughts wander. That’s more or less what the ideal Niksen looks like.
The concept originated in the Netherlands and has been attracting increased attention since 2019. The word “Niksen” means “doing nothing” in German and stands for the fact that you can lead a relaxed lifestyle despite everyday stress.
Admittedly, the idea doesn’t sound completely new now. Most people have probably heard of Danish hygge, which is about slowing down your life and being more mindful. So the principle is quite similar to Niksen.
Nevertheless, there is a crucial difference. While the purpose of hygge is to be more mindful of life’s little moments, niksen simply has no purpose at all – except to make you feel relaxed and good afterwards.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO NIKSEN?
There are no perfect places or moments for the concept, because it’s basically individual to each person. Some go hiking or cycling in nature, others sit down in a café in the pedestrian zone and watch the hustle and bustle, others relax in a spa, basically you have free choice. The only important thing is that you don’t do it to get something done or achieve something with it.
So you don’t go hiking to walk a certain distance or see a landmark. You don’t ride a bike to exercise. You don’t even meditate to relax. No matter what you do, it shouldn’t matter to your brain, so you can let your thoughts run free.
When you’re niksing, it basically doesn’t matter where you’re not doing anything.
Since most people don’t find this easy, it’s best to start in small steps. Think about the things you like to do, but where you can switch off very well, and then do them in your free time. If Niksen is for you, you will find that step by step you will find it easier and easier not to be preoccupied or distracted by anything.
The proponents of niksen are convinced that you can return to your everyday life truly rested and even feel more productive in the end.