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Start giftingThe Lost Art of Doing Nothing
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Learn moreA timely guide on how to make the most of your life when there’s nothing to do, whether by choice or not, niksen is the new Dutch philosophy teaching us how to rest and relax
“The best thing about niksen is the absence of a goal. It doesn’t serve a purpose, but it’s wonderful.”
Don’t you think it’s time for a break? Plagued—as we are!—by nonstop pings and notifications, we have lost the knack of zoning out. Kicking back. Slacking off. Even when pandemic-induced lockdowns forcibly cleared our calendars, many who thought “I’m free!” filled their days with Netflix and doomscrolling. How can we reclaim our free time, planned or not, to truly rest and reset?
The Dutch have it figured out: with niksen. Perhaps their best-kept lifestyle secret, niksen is the art of doing, well, nothing. It’s the opposite of productivity, and it’s incredibly good for you and good for your:
Mind—it makes you calmer,
Body—it offers rest on hectic days,
Creativity—it clears a space for brilliant ideas, and
Wallet—it’s free!
If you’re waiting for an invitation to go lie down in the sunshine, this book is it.
Maartje Willems is a Dutch journalist and writer. She lives in Amsterdam where she works as a freelancer and for the VPRO radio program Never Sleep Again. She previously wrote the self-help book From Now on Everything Will Get Better.
Kate Mulligan has acted with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for more than ten seasons in productions including Hairspray, Alice in Wonderland, and Sense and Sensibility. Her film and television work includes Being John Malkovich and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Reviews
“A charming and accessible how-to guide to chilling out.”
“I got a surprising amount of guidance…It looks like a coffee table gift book…but there are questions to answer and exercises to try.”
“Charming…This pleasant, effortless work will be perfect for any busybody.”
“Kate Mulligan is an energetic and sincere narrator…Mulligan sounds like an excited friend who has found a new theory she can’t wait to explain. She sounds warm and engaging, all the while maintaining a swift and steady pace…Willems and Mulligan entertain while they inform.”
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