Embrace the Art of Niksen: Finding Peace Amidst Holiday Chaos

The Importance of Taking a Break

What with all the running around needed for holiday planning and preparations, sometimes we hardly know where to start. Here’s a thought on what to do first – nothing.

As surprising as it may sound, during this most hectic time of year, it truly would behoove you to do niksen.

The Dutch art of doing nothing, nikse, is “being present in the moment, carving out time to just be and letting your mind wander wherever it wants to go.”

You can even take it a step further and enjoy lekker niksen: “deliciously doing nothing, blissfully free of any tasks or work.” It’s purposeful idleness, allowing yourself to rest with no pressure to be productive.

The Benefits of Niksen

A balm to soothe overtaxed emotions, niksen is a mental health day in minutes. Giving yourself permission to be still allows your nervous system a chance to wind down and your mind a moment to rest. And it’s time well spent – niksen can actually make you more productive. Taking a break from constant doing gives your brain a chance to reset. When you get back at it, you’ll have sharper focus and sustained attention.

How to Practice the Art of Niksen

Shift gears from feeling you have to do everything to doing nothing by distancing yourself from distractions. Treat yourself to a few minutes of quiet time. Just look out the window with your cup of coffee in the morning. During the day, take a walk with no podcast and no destination. Let your thoughts drift. Sit on a bench and watch the changing colors of dusk.

When you start thinking you should be doing something, notice it. Just as with, let those thoughts drift by.

The Emotional Toll of the Holiday Season

The pressure to have everything just right during the holiday season can take an emotional toll. Doing nothing isn’t neglectful; it’s replenishing. This practice of self-care helps slow the rush of the season so you can actually enjoy it. So sit a minute, sit for yourself. Do niksen.

Seeking Support

If doing nothing sounds impossible to you or someone you love, working with a Mental Health Coach can create the path to developing relaxing habits for the holidays and beyond. To learn how, have a confidential conversation with Cindy via phone at 631-921-4085 or reach her directly via email here to discuss the benefits of working with a member of our Accountability Coach team.

Our Comprehensive Services

The Recovery Coach NY program, developed by Founder & President Cindy Feinberg, is based on the philosophical theory of holism: The system as a whole determines how the parts behave. Working together, we create a plan to provide the safety, structure, and accountability that promotes long-term wellness.

We provide a wide range of services, including:

• Mental Health Support & Coaching

• Recovery Support & Coaching

• Sobriety & Mental Health Companionship

• Accountability & Executive Function Coaching

• Academic Coaching

• Scholastic Support

• Case Management

• Safe Transport

• Psychedelic Integration Coaching

• Intervention and Emergency Services

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Remember, taking time for yourself is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Embrace the art of niksen and find your peace amidst the holiday chaos.