The Art of Doing Nothing: How Relaxation Can Save Your Health

Isn’t it interesting how sometimes certain information will cross your path and you get the thought, “Is this trying to tell me something?”. Then when it happens repeatedly, I think it’s time to sit up and take notice! Here’s the message I got 3 times in the last week, and if we pay attention, it could literally save us from going down the road to a critical illness.

Here’s what happened:

Now, don’t get me wrong! A The first message came when I was listening to a person on social media reminiscing about the “old days” in the South, when people would just sit on the porch and relax.

In fact, when I was growing up, it was an almost nightly occurrence on my street, which was just a few blocks off the square in Marietta. Neighbors would stroll by and say hello, kids would play Swing the Statue and 1,2,3 Red Light while the grownups visited and the fireflies began to twinkle. Remembering this made me realize just how busy and stressful our modern lifestyle has become, and I had that thought, “Is this trying to tell me something?”

Discovering Fjaka

Just 2 days later, one of my clients came in and was telling me about a trip she had just taken to Croatia. The country is incredibly beautiful! She showed me pictures of mountains and architecture, but she said that what impressed her the most about visiting there was a term she learned, fjaka.

Fjaka is the concept of the art of doing nothing, but it’s more than just doing nothing. It’s being in the present moment, content and happy while doing nothing. This was message #2 on the same subject and I began to think God was trying to tell me something.

Where Do YoLearning About Niksen

Then the very next day, a client came in who was married to someone originally from the Netherlands.

She had spent lots of time there over the years and was preparing to go for a long trip back there over the summer. She talked about how lovely the lifestyle was there and mentioned the Dutch concept niksen.

Niksen is purposefully taking periods of idleness to reset your natural rhythms and combat stress. Now I knew I was supposed to pay attention!

The Global Tradition of Doing Nothing

I did a little research and found that many other countries/cultures practice this same “art of doing nothing.”

Italians call it Il dolce far niente, meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

In India it’s called Wu Wei, or “not doing.”

What struck me in learning about these cultures is that not only do they value doing nothing, but they also do not feel a second of guilt while doing it. So many times I hear my clients (and myself, truth be told) talk about being unable to just relax and do nothing without feeling tremendous guilt. Sound familiar?

Why We Need to Drop the Guilt

I propose that we knock off that ridiculous guilt, my friends. Stress has been most closely linked to heart disease and cancer, but contributes to many other illnesses, too. Consider this your Rx from me to take some time and fully enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing.