Google it: Niksen
The art of doing nothing — with a purpose!
What is it, and why is it a trend?
You’ve definitely heard of Hygge, the Danish concept of coziness. You may have heard of Lagom, the Swedish art of balance. But have you heard of Niksen? Niksen is a Dutch concept of doing nothing, and the latest trend that looks to counter our fast-paced culture which is taking a toll on our mental health, well-being and productivity.
Niken is not to be confused with laziness. Niksen is a stress-reducing practice, which encourages being purposeful around doing nothing, so that the brain re-charges and counteracts the overthinking and over-stimulation it is exposed to in today’s culture that does not promote sitting still. Although similar to mindfulness and meditation (which look to promote being present and acknowledging & clearing the mind of incoming thoughts), Niksen is about training the mind to wonder in a way that is productive, imaginative and creative. Essentially — it is productive daydreaming.
This trend is not surprising. Anxiety is fast becoming our primary concern as we look to not just manage but proactively improve our overall mental well-being.
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization officially recognized burnout as an “occupational phenomenon”, defining it as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.
Although search interest in occupational burnout has remained relatively stable over the past few years, the interest into the syndrome has been most prominent in Northern and Western Europe, with Netherlands topping the list. As such, it may not be surprising the Dutch have come up with Niksen as a unique way to try and counter the effects of burnout.
Burned out? Or just #sobusy?
What is most interesting (and telling?) is perhaps that one of the top related queries around occupational burnout is “millennial burnout”.
While stress is an age-old concept, Millennials appear to be the ones bringing the mental well-being aspect of it center stage. In this vein — Niksen, the latest in the string of single-worded lifestyle trends, feels uniquely Millennial.
And while many may scoff at these concepts, or attribute them to just another day in a life of a whiny Millennial, we should think again. Whether or not Millennials have it harder than other generations is irrelevant. One thing is certain though — they are actively looking to boost their mental and emotional wellbeing. Hashtags and trends like #AvoToast, #RoseAllDay, #UnicornCake or #MillennialPink may all be funny or borderline ridiculous on surface, but they’re all speaking to a very real underlying trend. By stimulating our 5 physical senses, we’re trying to incorporate a bit of balm to our nerves throughout our day. The rise in CBD is one of the most prominent examples currently of how we’re turning to mood-boosting solutions, and we’re increasingly seeing this trend across beauty, food and even alcohol products, all promising to boost our mood or soothe our anxiety. Rose strawberries, anyone?
Will it last?
While Niksen as a concept may fade, the philosophy behind it will not. Millennials are unlikely to stop looking for changes in lifestyle that can help them prevent or reduce their anxieties. Especially if those trends can be lived from the comfort of our armchairs and lend themselves well to a catchy hashtag ;)
