Niksen: The Radical Art of Doing Nothing

I am a restless person.

This week a friend told me they’d just settled in after a long walk, and I had this funny feeling. I realized that I don’t really settle in to anything. I am always on the go, moving from one thing to another, working, hustling, busy.

I think that can happen to many of us—we get in the grind and it sort of takes on a life of its own. We find ourselves on a hamster wheel, where the hustling becomes automatic and we don’t know how to shut it off. It’s second nature to push, push, push, and taking breaks becomes the hard part.

We start sticking to a routine SO rigidly because we’re afraid if we deviate from the routine it’ll be lost forever and we will lose everything we worked so hard for.

That siren call of productivity is everywhere—making rest a radical act.

So, how can we learn to pause and slow down, to even see that as something desirable?

The Dutch actually have that all sorted (drum roll please!).

Enter Niksen — the Dutch art of doing nothing. And no, it’s not laziness. It’s radical, restorative, and backed by science.

Photo by Dee. on Unsplash

So, what is Niksen?

Niksen is a Dutch verb meaning “doing nothing” or “to nothing,” — and being okay with it. Not just idle time, but a deliberate practice of just being.

Niksen isn’t meditation or mindfulness—it’s gloriously purpose-free. The art of simply existing, with no agenda, no technique.
While meditation and mindfulness ask you to do something specific (even if that something is non-striving), niksen invites you to drop all structure and just… be.

It’s not about practicing correctly. It’s about giving yourself permission to pause—full stop.

But even though it’s purpose-free, niksen is still an intentional act—a conscious choice to break the cycle of constant busyness. To allow yourself space to simply be…
to feel, to create, to grow.

Maybe you’re staring out the window, walking without a podcast, or knitting without thinking. It’s about releasing that tight grip on constant doing.

This counter-intuitive approach to stress management challenges our productivity obsession, tells us we are STILL OKAY, even when we aren’t doing anything.

Photo by Javier Ezpeleta on Unsplash

Why is Niksen a thing?

Because we live in a hustle culture where rest often feels like laziness. Niksen pushes back on that and says:

“You don’t need to earn your rest. Doing nothing has value, too.”

Why Doing Nothing Isn’t Lazy — It’s Necessary

Our brains, even at rest, are still hard at work in the background — connecting ideas, solving problems, and filing away memories. Even when we ‘niks,’ our brain is still processing information.

That is actually precisely why those aha moments often happen while daydreaming or walking (or the shower!) — the brain finally has space to breathe.

I find I always have my best ideas when I’m not striving for them, not driving myself to create, but in giving myself some space for my mind to rest or to wander.

Those moments were I’m just walking, without agenda, the ideas for articles, plans or even just the next best action come to me, like a shot of lightening.

Doing nothing is an act of rebellion in a world that worships busyness.

The Real Magic of Niksen

Doing nothing isn’t just enjoyable—it’s surprisingly powerful! Here’s what happens when you embrace a pause:

Your brain gets its groove back. Mental fatigue? Gone. Creative blocks? Dissolved. Your mind needs empty space to work its magic.
Stress melts away. Your body literally produces fewer stress hormones when you take purposeless breaks. Your shoulders will thank you.
Fresh ideas pop up uninvited. That solution you’ve been hunting for? It might just appear when you stop looking so hard.
You’ll actually focus better later. Counterintuitive but true: regular nothing-breaks improve concentration when you need it.
Sleep comes easier. Turns out, your brain needs practice at doing nothing before it can do it well at bedtime.
You become immune to FOMO. The constant chase of productivity loses its grip when you discover the joy of simply existing.
Life gets richer. When you’re not rushing to the next thing, you notice details, feelings, and moments that usually zoom right by.

But Let’s Be Real — Doing Nothing Can Feel…Awkward

Sitting still can be surprisingly uncomfortable, especially if you’re used to high gear. Like it can feel quite creepy at first.

That’s normal. And it’s exactly why practicing Niksen is so powerful — it retrains your nervous system to see stillness as safe, not scary.

I found this at first. I only ventured to take really short niksen breaks: Staring at a painting in a waiting room, watching the rain drizzle down the window of the car, watching my dog smell the umpteenth blade of grass.

Want to try Niksen? Start small. A few minutes a day. Then maybe one full evening a week with no plans.

Start by giving yourself guilt-free permission to just be. No phone. No goals. No pressure.

Rest in Motion

The idea here is to have moments of relaxation. This also doesn’t mean you have to do absolutely nothing, you can combine it with easy, semi-automatic activities that work beautifully for this kind of relaxed, mindful rest.

Niksen-friendly moments can include light, easy activities—things that gently occupy your hands or senses without requiring much thought. Think slow, repetitive, almost automatic motions that invite your mind to wander or settle.

For some, it’s the rhythm of knitting, doodling, or folding laundry. For others, it’s a quiet walk, rocking in a hammock, or sipping tea while watching the wind move through trees. Or if you like more movement: gentle bike riding, floating in water or a slow swim, light stretching.

These activities occupy your hands or senses just enough to ease you into rest, without needing deep focus or mental effort — exactly what makes them Niksen-friendly.

Photo by Austin Schmid on Unsplash

Make It Work for You

Like stress relief itself, there’s no magic formula. It’s figuring out what kind of relaxation works best for you.

This is not a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, you’ll discover which behaviours work best for you though trial and error. Ditch anything that doesn’t bring you peace.

Niksen might look like staring out the window. Or maybe it’s walking aimlessly, sipping tea without a podcast, or doodling with no purpose. Try different things. See what feels like a deep breath for your brain.

Stress, Stillness, and Starting Small

Niksen isn’t about slacking off all the time. It’s about carving out moments of intentional stillness in a world that rewards overdrive.

The Four A’s of stress management — avoid, alter, adapt, or accept — remind us that accepting downtime can be just as strategic as any productivity hack.

You don’t need a productivity app or planner for this. Just a few moments, a little stillness, and permission to do absolutely nothing. It’s a gift you give yourself.

Ever tried doing nothing on purpose?
How did it feel?
Creepy? Cozy? A little of both?

If you’re keen, try a 3-minute niksen break today and let me know how it feels!

Ditch Stress