This article is about nothing. It’s OK, you need a break.
Holiday stress is over. It’s OK to exhale now.
We know, we know. Shopping, family gatherings and finishing up last-minute work projects replaced joy with worry. It’s difficult to come down.
Even outside of the holidays, people are feeling the pressure of millennial burnout — and experiencing difficulty in finding time to complete mundane tasks (read: laundry, errands, mailing packages) amid the constant hustle of work and side projects.
“We live in a world where are are constantly overstimulated,” said Jaimis Huff, local yoga teacher and writer. “Everyone is stressed, anxious, on the verge of burnout, always in a state of fight or flight.
“Our nervous systems just need a break sometimes, so doing nothing for even just 5-10 minutes is a way to reset. It doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. I’ll feel the reflex to pick up my phone or start thinking of all the things I need to be doing. It’s important to show yourself grace and give yourself permission to chill.”
Sometimes the best way to relax is to just do nothing.
Enter niksen, the Dutch lifestyle concept of doing nothing. If you’ve recently looked out a window while observing your surroundings or listening to music — without purpose — you’re already practicing. Its growing popularity is attributed to its stress-fighting properties and its focus on true relaxation.
“I was telling a friend that sometimes when I’m really overwhelmed and going in a million different directions, my version of doing yoga is not rolling out my mat and doing the physical practice of yoga,” Huff said. “She smiled and told me I was onto something, and explained that niksen is the actual practice of doing nothing.”
Corey “C’Yo” Brown, founder of Urban Cardio Dance, said that he started practicing niksen after experiencing extreme fatigue, anxiety and sleep deprivation.
“After years of not knowing how to practice self-care, going non-stop took a toll on my physical and mental well being,” Brown said. “At one time, I prided myself on occupying every inch of my day. Now I look forward to having time to aimlessly lounge.”
“Because our society is so production-driven, we’ve been conditioned to believe taking a moment means we’re lazy,” Brown said. “However, with the trendy shift toward mental health awareness and emotional IQ, there is more literature and research being released to educate us on the importance of balance and rest.”
Dr. Elizabeth Peterson-Vita, the executive director of Behavioral Health at United Healthcare Community Plan, said niksen is a way to help alleviate stress and avoid burnout, allowing your mind and body to disconnect and recharge.
“There was once a time when it was OK to daydream or to sit and stare out of the window, unknowingly practicing niksen,” Peterson-Vita said. “It is perfectly OK and healthy to allow yourself time to just be and allowing your mind to wander. Don’t think about anything in particular or focus on any one thing.”
Peterson-Vita cites increased energy, reduced anxiety and feelings of freedom and tranquility to niksen. She also mentions it may lead to “less obvious benefits, such as inspiring creativity and improving quality of sleep and problem-solving skills. It allows your mind to refresh and recharge.”
How to practice niksen
Niksen is unique in that everyone will practice it differently.
“There is not a one-size-fits-all,” Peterson-Vita said. “Everyone should try different ways of practicing this until they find the method that works best for them. It could involve sitting quietly, listening to music or enjoying a leisurely walk through our beautiful city. There is no wrong way to do it. The most important thing is to allow you some time to just idle and see where your mind takes you.”
For Huff, niksen involves unwinding with her rescue poodle, Shanti.
“I leave my phone at home and we go for a walk through the neighborhood, or if I’m short on time, I sit on the steps in the backyard for 10 minutes while she looks for squirrels and sunbathes. She finds joy in the simple things, and it’s always a gentle reminder to do the same.”
A main benefit of niksen is that it can be practiced anywhere.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Huff said. “My friend told me her favorite thing to do is stare out the window and watch the birds in her front yard. Even if you work in an office building, taking five minutes to step outside and people watch is a way to take your mind off of the chaotic, never-ending to-do lists it seems like we are all drowning in.”
“Give yourself permission to so nothing, then set aside the time to do just that,” Brown said. “It doesn’t have to mean sitting in silence. I see it as setting aside time to remove yourself from tasks and responsibilities. If that downtime turns into painting your toenails or listening to music, the ultimate point is to let it naturally become that. You are to just sit back and relax.”
Kara Vincent, owner of Charlotte Family Yoga, also practices niksen between caring for her children and running a yoga studio.
The trick to incorporating yoga into your niksen practice is to approach it with the mindset that you’re doing it without purpose.
“I consider practicing yoga — Yin especially — as part of niksen because I am focusing on my breath and sitting in the pose,” Vincent said.
“I think it’s important to take time to do nothing and do something for you,” she added. “It helps to replenish you and refreshes your mind. If you are constantly on the go and not taking time for you, it will eventually be hard to keep going.”
Where to practice niksen in Charlotte
The core concept of niksen involves letting your mind wander. The best way to begin is to find a place where you can truly relax and let go of life’s stresses.
Here are five ways to get started:
(1) Take a walk outside.
Charlotte’s parks and greenways offer ample space to clear your head. Stroll around a pond with a fountain at Freedom Park or enjoy the foliage at the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
(2) Find a spot and mindlessly observe.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center and Rail Trail in South End are always full of locals engaging in fitness activities, walking dogs or just enjoying the weather. Settle into a spot and get some fresh air while mindlessly observing the hustle of the city.
(3) Stroll through the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.
Charlotte’s natural beauty can help reduce stress and encourage positive thinking. Take a walk through the stunning floral arrangements at the gardens and let your mind wander. While the arrangements are photo-worthy, make sure you put your phone away and disconnect to make the most of your alone time.
(4) Try a meditation class.
As Vincent mentioned, practicing yoga can be a form of niksen, as long as its performed without intention. Join a Yin class at Charlotte Family Yoga or meditate at Charlotte Meditation.
(5) Sip a coffee and reflect.
As the weather cools (or should we say: if this weather ever cools), there’s nothing sweeter than a warm beverage to calm nerves. Head to Enderly Coffee Co. or Sunflour Baking Company for an inviting atmosphere to clear your head.
Keep in mind:
“As with anything, practice with moderation,” Peterson-Vita said. “Too much niksen can produce the opposite desired effects, such as low productivity. We live in a purpose-driven world, and it’s important to have commitments, but we need the mental energy and clarity to fulfill them.”
