Have you heard of the concept of niksen? Niksen is a Dutch verb which translates to “doing nothing,” and has become popular as a wellness and stress-relief practice. According to Olga Mecking, author of Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing, “Niksen is downtime, quiet time, finding a moment to unwind and relax, and maybe reflect a little…” It’s important to note that niksen does not include reading, consuming digital media, or even deliberately meditating. According to Mecking, the idea is more like “gazing out of the window, sitting still, or looking around the room.” This deliberate idleness gives the brain a chance to unwind and recover from the near-constant state of information overload we all find ourselves in these days, and has many benefits to our mental and physical health.

I took this photo (and many more!) of a California poppy just beginning to unfurl its petals during the initial COVID lockdown period in 2020. That was a time when we all suddenly had a lot of free time on our hands, and we weren’t always sure what to do with it. My kids and I spent a lot of time doing niksen in our yard- just literally watching the flowers bloom. And like many of you, we found that the down time did have some unexpected benefits. Although we were stressed by the many changes and as-yet-unknown dangers of the pandemic, the unstructured time was an unexpected blessing.

I love thinking about doing nothing as a valuable choice you can make, rather than a problematic state in between more focused periods of activity. Niksen is also a nice bonus effect of an acupuncture treatment. While the needles are doing their work, your mind is free to wander and unwind. Sure, you can fill this time with listening to podcasts or scrolling your phone, but I encourage you to take it as a quiet pause, knowing that your brain and body will appreciate the benefits of doing nothing. And if you fall asleep? Well, a nap is great for you too!