OPEN LETTER/ Come to the dialogue and listen to me speak, otherwise I will cut off your scholarships, you will rot in prison. Please!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

"Doing nothing", the Dutch solution to relieve stress that has attracted the attention of the world

2023-05-28 15:27:28Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
"Doing nothing", the Dutch solution to relieve stress that has
The Dutch stress reliever that has caught the world's attention

Niksen, a Dutch health trend that means "doing nothing," has caught the world's attention as a way to manage stress or recover from exhaustion.

"Niksen" is a Dutch health trend that means "doing nothing". It first caught the world's attention in 2019 as a way to manage stress or recover from exhaustion. At that time, many people complained that they were exhausted and depressed from overwork and were looking for solutions. This is why concepts such as "Japanese ikigai" or "Danish hygge" also entered the English lexicon.

Olga Mecking, writer and journalist, in her book "Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing", defined it as "doing nothing without a purpose".

Niksen is about being alone and still, letting your mind wander wherever it wants to go. And as we slowly recover from Covid-19, it's important to rethink the way we work and spend our time.

Linguistically, niksen (doing nothing) is a verb derived from "niks", which means "nothing".

"It matches the tendency of the Dutch language to create verbs from nouns. From 'voetbal' (soccer) to voetballen (playing football), from 'internet' to internetten, from 'hatsapp' to ëhatsappen etc. I think this is something which happens in Dutch in particular," says Monique Flecken, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam who researches how the languages ​​we speak affect the way we see the world. Basically, it's a lot less work to say 'niksen' in instead of "doing nothing".

"The Dutch are a practical, straightforward people and their language reflects that," she says.

"Doing nothing", the Dutch solution to relieve stress that has

For Thijs Launspach, a psychologist and TEDx speaker, niksen means "doing nothing or doing something trivial as a way to enjoy your time," he says, pointing out that this applies more to older people who have more free time Younger generations, on the other hand, are more stressed than ever, even in the Netherlands, a country known for its work-life balance.

There are many reasons for this.

"Our lives and jobs have become more and more complex. We tend to spend a lot of time on the computer. There's a lot of pressure to be the best version of ourselves, whether it's in our jobs, our parents' expectations or from social media. There's a lot of pressure to be the best," says Launspach.

Of course, some stress can be good, as Leiden University psychology professor Bernet Elzinga points out.

"It's not necessarily bad to be in a state of stress for a moment, where you're really focused. The problem is when it gets out of hand," she says.

But niksen can help with that. "When you do nothing, your brain calms down and it's easier to think," explains Elzinga.

Paradoxically, taking a break can even make us more productive, simply because breaks allow our brains to rest and return with better focus and sustained attention. This is probably why, while the Dutch do not work long hours, they tend to be very efficient at work.

The Dutch also like to enjoy life, as shown by the word "lekker". It means "delicious" but can be used to refer to anything pleasant and beautiful, such as warm lekker (warm with taste), lekker slapen (delicious sleep) and, of course, "lekker niksen', or 'doing nothing tasty'.

Locals like to spend their time in active ways, such as cycling or walking, giving themselves time to clear their minds. And whenever the sun comes out, the Dutch flock to the cafes and terraces en masse, even in winter. And according to psychologists, these are perfect places to do nothing.

Elzinga believes that it is much better to do some kind of physical activity to get away from everyday worries, preferably in nature. Fortunately, in the Netherlands, there is a way to combine all these things, nixen, nature and movement.

While the country is not usually known for its natural resources, the Dutch appreciate the small natural areas they have. Many areas are part of a large network of walking and cycling routes that criss-cross the country. Even in big cities like Rotterdam, The Hague or Amsterdam, you are never too far from a trail.

The Netherlands is a country with an excellent welfare system, and while people tend to work hard, they also get and are given a lot of days off.

"Having a good social support system, having a lower level of stress is associated with a sense of security and balance. So, niksen is the right word to finally have a population with good mental health", says Elzinga.

And with everything going on in the world, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and inflation, stress relief is more important than ever.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×