The Lost Art of Doing Nothing: How the Dutch Unwind with Niksen

Description

“The best thing about niksen is the absence of a goal. It doesn’t serve a purpose, but it’s wonderful.” Don’t you think it’s time for a break? Plagued—as we are!—by nonstop pings and notifications, we have lost the knack of zoning out. Kicking back. Slacking off. Even when pandemic-induced lockdowns forcibly cleared our calendars, many who thought I’m free! filled their days with Netflix and doomscrolling. How can we reclaim our free time (planned or not) to truly rest and reset? The Dutch have it figured out: with niksen. Perhaps their best-kept lifestyle secret, niksen is the art of doing, well, nothing. It’s the opposite of productivity, and it’s incredibly good for your . . . MIND—it makes you calmer. BODY—it offers rest on hectic days. CREATIVITY—it clears a space for brilliant ideas. WALLET—it’s free! Cover Contents Preface 1. Niksen and time The question of time A sense of morality Feeling bored Niksen like a butterfly But what about my schedule? Falling victim to perfectionism Sleep deprivation Naps Niksen and family Niksen and friends #JOMO Niksen on vacation Practical Tips: Where do you find the time? Niksen and your body Stress Burnout Bore-out Energy Sitting The heart A woman's heart Slowly does it Meditation Meditation and science Practical Tips: How to relax Niksen and the outside world The land of Cockaigne The Industrial Revolution Feminism Hip Wallet Flextime Working fewer hours Bullshit jobs The attention economy Niksen at work The future Niksen around the world Creativity Inspiration Unfocusing Procrastination Practical tips: fighting distraction Conclusion Further Reading About the Authors Back Cover