niksen

[ nik-suhn ]

noun

1. the practice of doing nothing as a means of relieving stress; idle activity, as staring into the trees or listening to music, with no purpose other than relaxation:

   The daily practice of niksen has improved my well-being by decluttering my mind, and it seems to make me more alert and productive afterward.

Word History and Origins

Origin of niksen¹

First recorded in 2010–15; from Dutch: literally, “to do nothing,” verbification of niks “nothing”

Example Sentences

The Dutch offer lessons in being more chill with Maartje Willems’ “The Lost Art of Doing Nothing” and Olga Mecking’s “Niksen,” which establish the Netherlands as the global capitol of zoning out, as well as Mirjam van der Vegt’s soothing “Stilte,” which promulgates a more intent, spiritual embrace of solitude, stillness and silence derived from Christian monastic practice, the end result of which may be to doff our earbuds altogether and just get comfortable with peace and quiet.

From Seattle Times

Olga Mecking is a writer living in the Netherlands and the author of “Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing.”

From Washington Post

This practice has been portrayed recently as “doing nothing,” thanks in part to Olga Mecking’s 2020 book, “Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing.”

From Washington Post

Olga Mecking is a writer living in the Netherlands and the author of “Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing.”

From Washington Post

Concepts like "niksen," Dutch for "doing nothing," and "wintering," resting in response to adversity, have entered the wellness lexicon.

From Salon