How ‘Niksen,’ the Dutch Way of Doing Nothing, Is Good for Mental Health

We live in a world that praises hustle. If you are not doing something productive, you are wasting time, right? The Dutch would say, Not so fast. ‘Niksen’ is the radical idea that doing absolutely nothing is not just okay, it’s actually good for you.

Niksen isn’t laziness. It is a mental reset. A deliberate pause. It is sitting still and letting your thoughts wander without trying to fix or finish anything. And surprisingly, science backs it up. Niksen is helping people fight burnout, beat stress, and unlock creativity, all by embracing a bit of well-timed idleness.

What Is Niksen?

Niksen is the act of doing nothing on purpose. That is it! No phone, no agenda, no guilt. You might stare at the ceiling, sit by a window, or let your mind float while sipping coffee. There is no goal, and that is the whole point.

Olly / Pexels / Unlike mindfulness or meditation, Niksen doesn’t ask you to focus on your breath or stay present. It doesn’t involve mantras or apps.

Instead, it is just you, zoning out in the best way possible. One expert put it nicely, saying, “Mindfulness asks for awareness. Niksen asks for nothing.”

Hobbies like knitting or jogging don’t count either. Those have structure and purpose. Niksen lives in the in-between moments, the quiet pauses with no plan. It is the art of being without doing, and that is where the magic happens.

Your Brain Actually Needs More Nothing

Stress is an integral part of our daily lives. Notifications, deadlines, and endless tasks all add up. Niksen flips the switch. When you do nothing, your nervous system shifts into a state of recovery. Your heart rate slows. Your muscles relax. You breathe deeper without even noticing.

This shift kicks in your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the “rest and digest” mode. It calms your body and clears your mind. Over time, it can lead to better sleep and a noticeable drop in anxiety. All from doing nothing.

Something else kicks in, which is your Default Mode Network, or DMN. It is the part of your brain that lights up when you are not focused on anything in particular. The DMN connects dots, solves problems, and sparks creativity. Ever get a great idea in the shower or while daydreaming? That is your DMN at work.

More Focus Means Less Burnout

It might sound counterintuitive, but taking a break can actually make you sharper. Your brain isn’t a machine. It needs downtime to stay efficient. When you step away, even briefly, you come back stronger.

Mate / Pexels / Niksen works like a mental power nap. It recharges your focus and helps you avoid burnout.

That is why some of the most productive people on the planet swear by regular breaks, even if those breaks involve nothing more than sitting and staring out the window.

It also improves how you learn. When you take in new info, your brain needs quiet time to process it. Niksen gives your brain room to connect the dots and store memories more effectively.

We are taught that our value comes from output. The busier you are, the more successful you must be. Niksen calls that bluff. It says your worth isn’t tied to constant doing. You don’t have to earn rest.

Practicing Niksen chips away at the pressure to consistently perform. It creates a mental space where you are free from expectations. No chasing goals. No metrics. Just breathing, thinking, or maybe not thinking at all.