Happiness researcher Olga Mecking shares why "niksen," the Dutch art of doing nothing, is one of the biggest reasons why people in the Netherlands are so happy and content.

I was born in Poland and grew up in Germany, but my family and I have been living in the Netherlands for the last 14 years.

When I first discovered the concept of “niksen,” or the Dutch art of doing nothing, I was fascinated. I even wrote a book about it. When I applied it to my own life, my perspective about happiness shifted in a significant way.

I believe niksen is one of the reasons why the Dutch are consistently ranked as some of the happiest people in the world. Niksen might seem selfish or boring at first glance, but it’s actually a service to you and your community.

    • assembly@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      9 months ago

      Drugs is still doing something I assume. I’ve never been there but I am trying to picture doing nothing and having a hard time so I assume it’s something I should attempt to do myself. Maybe I’ll stare at a forest or something.

    • MuchPineapples@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      You’re better off going to Colorado or something for your weed. Probably cheaper and actually legal (and thus less shady people running the place). And the shrooms are also nerved (only truffels allowed, not caps) ever since tourists misused them. Those are the only real ‘legal’ (not actually legal) drugs.