Are you already Nikst?

I'm like a Duracell bunny that's constantly energised. Even when I'm watching TV, I can't sit still and have to do something at the same time. Whether it's answering the news, ironing or skimming a fashion magazine. I kill several birds with one stone and finish my to-dos faster. The recreational value is zero. I don't have time to do nothing. Even on the tram, on my 20-minute journey to work, I briefly check my emails and the day's news. It would be healthier to sit still and look out of the tram window. The Dutch even have a word for celebrating sweet idleness: "Niksen".

Relax yourself

Niksen stands for consciously switching off. In contrast to the ten-minute meditation, where you concentrate on clearing your head and switching off, Niksen is a plea for physical calm. You can let your thoughts run free. The important thing is that you sit or lie still. Mobile phones are taboo.

** Slowing down 2.0**
Sure, yet another annoying trend term dedicated to the topic of slowing down. The fact is that the Dutch word is not new, but like the German word "Faulenzen", it has had a negative connotation until now. What is new, however, is the positive idea of not having a guilty conscience when hanging out, even though nothing productive comes of it.

It has been scientifically proven that stress makes you ill. That's why it's even more important that you consciously make time for doing nothing, even if you don't seem to have time for it. For my part, I'm going to make a resolution from now on not to automatically reach for my smartphone in trams and waiting rooms, but instead to consciously notice my surroundings and take a nap.

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