Ensuring Your Guests Have Time To Do Nothing Is The New Luxury (Even In Business Hotels)

Imagine this: sitting in a cozy chair, staring out of the window, letting your thoughts meander without any agenda. That’s the essence of Niksen, a Dutch concept that means “doing nothing with no specific purpose.” Unlike mindfulness, which emphasizes being present and aware, Niksen encourages unstructured daydreaming and simply existing.

It’s not mindfulness; a better definition would be a short period of mindless relaxation.

This practice offers profound benefits, from reducing anxiety to enhancing creativity. Ruut Veenhoven, a sociologist at Erasmus University, points out that even when doing nothing, the brain continues processing information, often leading to breakthrough ideas.

By giving the brain ‘downtime’ we can improve mental health and allow ideas to incubate.

In a world where busyness is often worn as a badge of honour, the true luxury is no longer just about space or opulence—it’s about time.

The Dutch concept of niksen, is emerging as the antidote to the modern plague of time anxiety. This feeling of constantly needing to be productive or busy is exhausting, and it’s why creating opportunities for guests to simply be is the next frontier in hospitality.

Actionable Insights for Hospitality Leaders

Here’s how you can incorporate niksen into your hotel experience, creating moments of nothingness that will delight your guests and even benefit your employees:

Design Spaces for Doing Nothing

Your hotel probably has a coffee shop. Take a look at this video. It has 2m views at the time of writing this insight. People want to hear ambient noises.

• White Noise Zones: Play ambient sounds like a bustling coffee shop or rustling leaves in common areas. Websites like mynoise.net allow you to customize these sounds.
• Coffee Shop Sanctuaries: Do the opposite too! Create quiet corners with comfortable seating, soft lighting, and sand timers on tables.
• Window Nooks: Install cozy window seats with views of nature or, if that’s not possible, create a tableau with plants, soft lighting, and calming visuals.

Offer Digital Detox Options

• Phone-Free Zones: Encourage guests to hand over their phones at the front desk or use services like Yondr to create phone-free spaces.
• Unplugged Experiences: Provide guided activities like nature walks, journaling, or gratitude letter writing to help guests disconnect and recharge.

Empower Guests with “Do Not Disturb” Signals

My personal favourite. Let guests be. I recently spent a few days at House Of Jasol. The team was available all the time, but just let me be. Perfect.

• Wristbands for Privacy: Give guests a wristband that signals to staff not to engage unless explicitly approached. This eliminates the constant “How is your stay?” interruptions and allows guests to truly unwind.
• Offer ‘Silence Hours’ at Coffee Shops: Coffee shops are already natural spaces for contemplation. Introduce a sand timer at tables — guests flip it to signal they want uninterrupted time. No questions, no service until the sand runs out.

Create Niksen Moments in Guest Rooms

• Calm Corners: Design a small area in each room with a comfortable chair, a plant, and a view (real or simulated) where guests can sit and do nothing.
• Guided Relaxation: Include a card with simple niksen prompts, like “Sit by the window and watch the world go by for 5 minutes” or “Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you.”

Extend Niksen to Employees

• Staff Relaxation Zones: Create a quiet room for employees to take short breaks and practice niksen during their shifts.
• Noise cancellation headphones for your team. If you cannot create more space, create opportunity.
• Mindful Scheduling: Allow employees to take moments of stillness during their workday, which can reduce burnout and improve overall morale.

Why This Matters

In a fast-paced world, the ability to do nothing is a rare and valuable gift. By incorporating niksen into your hotel experience, you’re not just offering luxury—you’re offering a sense of peace and rejuvenation that your guests (and employees) will deeply appreciate.

Try It Yourself

Why not experience niksen right now? Do Nothing for 2 Minutes and take a moment to simply be.

Dare to be idle. As Carolien Hamming, managing director of CSR Centrum, says, “Niksen is not laziness—it’s a necessary pause in a world that never stops.”

By embracing niksen, your hotel can become a sanctuary of stillness in a chaotic world, setting you apart as a leader in the future of hospitality.

If you need me to visit and create these opportunities for you, feel free to reach out. [email protected] or +91 9872000604