Digital technology is a two-sided coin: it entertains you when you are bored, but it also overwhelms you with information. Try this Dutch practice to counteract it.
Boredom is uncomfortable, and digital media is very good at rescuing us from it. But this activity gives only a quick reward and no real rest.
Digital media can also leave us overwhelmed with information. Over time, the brain gets trained to expect constant stimulation.
A different response to boredom can be more helpful. Next time you feel the need to fill an empty moment, try niksen. This Dutch practice translates to “doing nothing.”
How to Practice Niksen?
Do not set a goal because niksen is not about efficiency or completion.
Writer and journalist Olga Mecking, author of "Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing," gives some examples of what niksen is not:
“Not watching a movie, not scrolling social media, not reading emails. We always have in mind some kind of outcome. When we prepare meals, we think, ‘This meal will help me lose weight or will make me healthier.’ If we go for a walk, it has to be part of our 10,000 steps. So we lose that fun of just eating or just walking. So it’s about letting go of the outcome.”
To enjoy niksen, try some of these activities:
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Sit by an open window without music or podcasts.
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Walk along the shoreline.
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Birdwatch in a park.
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Sit in a coffee shop.
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Watch clouds move across the sky.
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Sit on a bench and observe people passing by.
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Lie on the grass and listen to outdoor sounds.
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Look at trees moving in the wind.
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Float in a pool without counting laps.
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Walk slowly around your neighborhood with no route, timer, or step goal.
Trying niksen every other day can help you slow down and enjoy the moment.
Sources:
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Connected by Boredom: A Systematic Review of the Role of Trait Boredom in Problematic Technology Use
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The art of doing nothing: have the Dutch found the answer to burnout culture?
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Examining the connections between boredom proneness, resilience, mental well-being, and rumination