They come to work early and leave later than everyone else. During breaks they read lectures, learn languages, and do exercises. Their name is workaholics. Their lifestyle is the new normal. Why is this dangerous and what should we learn from slackers? Let’s talk!
Work Until You Sweat
According to a survey conducted in November 2023, almost 30% of Europeans consider themselves workaholics. At the same time, 55% of respondents are trying to fight workaholism. The Dutch philosophy of “doing nothing”—niksen—can help them with this.
We live in an era of high speeds and an overabundance of information. To be successful, you need to be active, react as quickly as possible and try to do as much as possible. Hence the mode of achievement and multitasking, endless to-do lists and constant busyness. Many people even try to organize their vacation so that it is useful and productive: social networks at lunch, podcasts and audiobooks while walking the dog or playing sports. This lifestyle leads to stress, fatigue and burnout. The concept of niksen arose as a reaction to this situation, its purpose is to give the brain and body a break and reduce stress.”
What Is Niksen
Translated from Dutch, “niksen” literally means “doing nothing,” “inaction,”. In English “relax” means approximately the same thing, in Italian “dolce farniente”, in Chinese there is the concept of “zen”. After the publication of a book about hygge as a Danish leisurely lifestyle, the Swedish word “lagom” became known. In the English language, perhaps, the closest words are: contemplation, serenity, peace, inaction.
Nixen involves a total cessation of active activity and enjoying the moment without any goals or responsibilities. Therefore, this practice is also called the philosophy of slackers.
Why Do Workaholics Need This?
The “slacker philosophy” can be of great benefit to workaholics.
Helps fight stress. The desire for constant success and achievement is fraught with emotional and physical burnout. Nixen allows you to relax and put worries aside for later, which is important for restoring strength and energy.
Improves health. Regular breaks protect the nervous system from emotional exhaustion. When we are constantly busy, our body begins to produce more cortisol, the stress hormone. Niksen helps to relax and reduce its level.
Develops creativity. For the brain, a relaxed mind is just as important as a tense one. During such periods he carries out deep creative work. This conclusion was reached by Jonathan Schooler, a psychology professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara. According to him, “while having your head in the clouds or even idle chatter, moments of insight come.” Therefore, from time to time you need to rise above the problem, and not just focus on solving it.
Improves productivity. After prolonged strenuous activity, the efficiency of the brain decreases and it requires a break. Canadian author Chris Bailey, in his productivity books, advises finding time to do nothing, and do nothing purposefully.”
Builds a balance between work and personal life. Many workaholics are so immersed in work that they forget about their loved ones, friends and themselves. Niksen helps you find balance and live a full, happy life.
Embracing the Niksen philosophy, Avalon 78 online casino provides a serene and tranquil atmosphere where players can unwind and experience moments of peaceful reflection while enjoying their favorite games.
How to Practice?
“Doing nothing” does not mean simply putting things aside, being lazy and resting. —The idea of niksen is to consciously and intentionally spend time and energy on things like looking at patterns on wallpaper or sitting still.
You can look out the window, look at people in public transport, listen to birdsong or classical music, walk, do creative work: knit, paint, sculpt. It is important that this activity does not have a goal – you need to immerse yourself in the process itself
The Niksen philosophy calls not to combine rest with any other activity.If you drink tea, then all your attention is directed to this process, to the taste of the tea, its aroma, your sensations after each sip. If you look out the window, then all your attention is directed to the changing view from the window, flying birds, passing people, cars, plants, the sky.
During such a rest, you do not make plans, do not wander into memories, do not look for another purpose for this activity, you allow your brain to simply rest. It is important to allow yourself such inaction and not blame yourself later for not being productive.
Each person decides for himself how much time he needs for such a rest; for some, five minutes a day is enough, while others will devote an hour to this.”
Niksen can be a useful philosophy if used consciously and in doses. You shouldn’t deceive yourself and those around you and hide behind this concept when you don’t want to do something. In such cases, it is better to delegate unpleasant responsibilities, try to give meaning to routine work, or think about changing your field of activity. But for those who work long and hard, niksen can be a great tool to do their job more efficiently without burning out.
What Difficulties Might You Encounter?
From the point of view of finding inner harmony, the niksen philosophy is not a bad idea. But it must be practiced with caution, because it can also cause stress. Workaholics are especially prone to it. People who are used to working 24/7 without rest, holidays, and sometimes without a lunch break.
If you want to dive into niksen, do it smoothly. You shouldn’t have a “day of doing nothing” right away, start with 5 minutes of rest.
For those who are accustomed to constant productive activity, it may be difficult to allow themselves to be inactive and not feel guilty about it. But realizing that they are harming their health by doing this can help them implement niksen practice into their lives.
