Niksen
The practice of deliberately doing nothing — sitting idle, staring out a window, or letting your mind wander without any productive goal.
EverydayConcepts.io
Origin
Built from the Dutch niks ("nothing"), niksen literally means "to nothing" — a noun turned verb. Unlike the centuries-old concept of gezelligheid, niksen gained attention only recently as a counterpoint to burnout culture. Writer Olga Mecking brought it to a global audience with a viral 2019 New York Times article and her 2020 book Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing.
Updated February 22, 2026