The Slower we Move, the Faster we return Home

Think about the last time you did nothing. For many years, leisure was thought to be the golden promise of prosperity. But stopping the cycle of accomplishing things can be challenging in a culture that prizes getting things done. If you aren't too preoccupied with feeling guilty, leisure might make you bored to tears.

There’s a way out of our business, and it’s not more mindfulness, exercise, or a healthy diet (though these things are all still important). What we’re talking about is … doing nothing. Or, as the Dutch call it, niksen. The Dutch dictionary defines?niks?as a variation of?niets, meaning “nothing,” so the verb?niksen?means “to do nothing.” The art of niksen is to not turn an activity into a purpose.?

If leisure doesn’t come easy to you, here are a few steps you can take to improve your slothful skills.

1. Begin small: Start with a few minutes each day before attempting to sit on a beach for a week doing nothing. Spend five minutes sitting quietly somewhere quiet, ideally with a nice view. If you don't use any technology during this time, you'll enter what neuroscientists call the "default network," a resting place for brain regions used for concentrated work.
2. Go on a vacation without a plan: When you have mastered the art of daily leisure, take this principle to its utmost by travelling to a place where you can effectively indulge in inactivity indefinitely. Don’t turn your vacation into a separate form of work because you will have the chance to experience the profound refreshment that only true leisure can provide.
3. Soft Fascination: Choose activities that can gently hold your attention while also giving you plenty of room to mentally wander during your unstructured vacation. Psychologists at the University of Michigan call it "soft fascination," and it can be found by walking in the woods or watching the waves. Contrarily, "hard fascination," which can be obtained by, for instance, watching television, monopolizes attention and prevents mind-wandering. According to research, soft fascination is more restorative than hard fascination.

If you’re waiting for an invitation to go lie down in the sunshine, this post is it.