I hope we will still plan to do nothing when this period is over.

35 Niksen – Olga Mecking
Embracing the Dutch art of doing nothing

In ‘Niksen’ Olga Mecking shares the ins and outs of the Dutch wellness trend of niksen, or doing nothing. And it is actually harder than it sounds. Mecking shows us with humor and insight how we can spend more time being a little lazier, and explains why allowing ourselves do less will result in increased creativity, productivity, and happiness. The proof? Well, the Dutch are some of the happiest people in the world. Niksen is full of fun tips and anecdotes and supported by expert opinions and interviews. Discover the Dutch art of doing nothing.

In this time of corona I’ve had a real challenge for myself; read an English book and write an review in English. I really liked doing this.

Olga used to be so good at it, when she was young. Niksen.
Olga starts with a perfect story of children who listen, being the perfect mum and employee and birds chirping. Than she writes about real life. A funny story that makes you concider what doing nothing will do to you.
She did a lot of research but what I most liked in this book were her own stories. She compares doing nothing with wellness.
She asks if Niksen is really a Dutch thing? It seems that the Dutch know what it is but they don’t do it either.
I thougt that that is funny, I don’t do it. Niksen. I do mindfullness and wellness but that’s not the same.
And so it goes on, Olga tells her own stoy, she lived in Holland for ten years. She had international roots and she spoke a lot of people all over the world about Niksen.
I really liked the little drawings in the book and the questions she asks are good. It makes you think about your own situation.
She ends her story with 3 appendixes; The Nikseneers manifesto, Niksen tips and 7 Niksen tips from the Dutch; I liked tip 4. Put Niksen in the agenda or you might forget it.
This book helped me tot think about Niksen in a time we are all-in Quarantaine. And I hope we will still plan to do nothing when this period is over.