Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 03/Jul 04:51

The art of nothingness

Kanisa George ON MONDAY, most of us waited anxiously and, in some cases, frightfully for Hurricane Beryl's arrival. We prepared our homes, pantries and Netflix lists to ensure comfort and safety during that uncertain time. But aside from participating in the "hurricane snacks" trend and the very interesting art of securing roof sheets with ropes, if things did go severely awry, most of us would have been left with a lot of time on our hands. Some might think, "Hmm, I could get used to some downtime." But when actually tasked with utilising downtime to their benefit, they might be at odds with what to do with it. Without electricity or internet access, most of us would be left with the options of sleeping the day away, exhausting conversations with loved ones, or sitting around doing nothing. But when you think about it, is the latter approach really that bad? After all, some of the activities we get caught up in have a degree of nothingness attached to them. Yet, doing nothing is sometimes hard to do. Oscar Wilde observed in his play, The Importance of Being Earnest, that it is "awfully hard work doing nothing." But there is a unique lifestyle movement that advocates the art of doing nothing as a way to combat the stressful, full-on lifestyles we've become so accustomed to. It's called niksen, the Dutch concept of doing nothing, and according to Carolien Hamming, managing director of CSR Centrum, a coaching centre in the Netherlands, it could be as simple as just hanging around, looking at your surroundings, or listening to music. "As long as it's without purpose," she says, and not done to achieve something or be productive. A key element of niksen, based on research on happiness conducted by Ruut Veenhoven, a sociologist and professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is the ability to carve out time just to be, letting your mind wander rather than focusing on the details of an action. In many ways, niksen is akin to slowing down and has outstanding benefits from emotional perks – like reducing anxiety – to physical advantages – like curtailing the ageing process and strengthening the body's ability to fight off a common cold. But it's not just about physical and mental health. Niksen can also be a powerful tool for personal development, allowing you the time and space to reflect on your life, your goals and your relationships. In truth, most of us are pretty skilled at doing nothing. After all, we live in a world that somehow glorifies aimlessly scrolling social media. But to really gain benefits from doing nothing, we must practise intentional nothingness, and according to the available research, this means it's time to put your phone down. One writer suggests that in order to let your mind wander, you must intentionally decrease screen time: no TV, phone, books, or social media. Instead, you could sit in a comfortable spot, perhaps a cozy corner of your home or a peaceful park, and allow yourself to relax or simply be present with whatever is happening within you and around you. You could also incorporate niksen into your daily routine by taking a few minutes to just sit and observe your surroundings, or by listening to calming music during your commute. Sounds like a waste of time? Well, it isn't. Practising wholesome nothingness allows you to slow down your nervous system and presents the perfect opportunity to recalibrate. When you're bombarded with constant stimuli from TV or social media, you aren't allowing your body and mind to sit still; instead, you can become overstimulated, anxious, or checked out, which is counter-intuitive to the artful application of doing nothing. For some, the thought of doing nothing might seem like a waste of time, but I think it often boils down to the fear of being alone with one's thoughts and feelings. It might seem uncomfortable at first, but psychologists see "doing nothing" as a way to get comfortable with oneself. It's okay to feel sceptical or resistant to the idea of doing nothing, but it's important to remember that it's not about wasting time, but about giving yourself the space to breathe and reconnect with yourself. "When you give yourself permission just to be, without having to do anything or produce anything, it can help you become more accepting of who you are and more understanding of your limitations, strengths and areas that need improvement. There is so much benefit to carving out 20 minutes every so often to give yourself the space to connect, deconstruct and recalibrate without the pressure of engaging in a purpose-driven task. I love the idea of not having to be productive every minute of every day, but there is also power in using your time to benefit your mental health and overall improvement. Honestly, it's all about a shift in mindset to find a balance between being productive and doing nothing. And sometimes, the starting point is hard to get to. For those of us who are obsessed with the idea of keeping busy, it might be hard to see the value of nothingness. But even with the weight of keeping busy bearing on us, there are moments when time is wasted on idol pleasure. In essence, the starting point should be to accept the import of pleasantly doing nothing while giving our thoughts space to breathe without distraction or expectation. We should be bold about the lives we want to lead, and it should include moments to rest and reset. Create opportunities to focus on the now and consult with your mind, body and soul. Take a moment to master doing nothing artfully. The post The art of nothingness appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.