With the global pandemic raging on and showing no real signs of stopping, the UK’s stress and anxiety levels have reached an all-time high… and it’s certainly no surprise, what with everything that’s going on at the moment. It would be a surprise if you weren’t feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment.
Finding ways to manage stress and anxiety levels has never been more important and there are all sorts of different strategies you can employ to help give your mental health and wellbeing a serious and much-needed boost.
Something you may not have come across before, however, is Niksen, a Dutch concept that involves doing absolutely nothing and which could be just the ticket if you have been feeling a little bit overworked and overstressed of late.
The idea behind the concept is to simply sit and do nothing, or take in your surroundings, perhaps listen to some music - as long as what you’re doing is done without purpose, with no aim in mind or a goal to achieve. Leave productivity at the door!
It’s important to remember that we’re human beings, not human doings, but this is all too easy to forget when we’re faced with the pressures of daily life.
But the pandemic and lockdown has forced us all to slow down and really take stock of what’s important and, while the last few months have certainly been difficult, upsetting and stressful for us all, there are silver linings to be found if you look for them.
Moments of relaxation are incredibly important and following the principles of Niksen, you can combine these moments with some kind of relaxing activity, such as knitting, which - once you’ve got the knack - can be done in a semi-automatic way.
It might sound easy enough to just sit there and do nothing, but stopping can be incredibly difficult if you’re used to being on the go all the time. Start off small with a few minutes each day - perhaps make a morning coffee, sit on the sofa and look out of the window until you’ve finished your drink, allowing your mind to wander.
There are all sorts of benefits associated with the practice of Niksen, everything from tackling feelings of stress to even helping inspire all sorts of bright ideas.
So if you have been feeling uninspired of late or if you are feeling a little overwhelmed with everything that’s going on, perhaps try sitting down for five minutes each day to do absolutely nothing… who knows? It could work absolute wonders.
Of course, if your feelings don’t go away or they start to become seriously insurmountable, you may need to seek outside help, in which case you may find it useful to see online therapist Alex, who can assist you with all sorts of problems, ranging from anxiety and stress to addiction. Get in touch today to make an appointment.