Doing Nothing: Three New Books About ‘Niksen’

I almost didn’t even start this text. The reason? Procrastination, procrastination. Procrastinating is not a phenomenon of today. To procrastinate was first used in English in 1588 and is borrowed from Latin. Crastomorrow, is the root of crastinusbelonging to tomorrow. So whatever needs to be done tomorrow, postpone it until the day after tomorrow. Others then see you as work-shy and lazy. In the performance world of Protestant work ethics, it is no coincidence that an odor has been added to this adjective – it has become “stupidly lazy”.

Establish purposeless enjoyment

The Swiss Lukas Niederberger deals with such apparent laziness, with performance and leisure, time rush and creative disengagement. He is a trained philosopher and theologian who turned his back on the Jesuit order after 22 years. In a relaxed tone, he skilfully walks through the scenario of performance dictates and merits, along with “bullshit jobs” in the sense of the American economist David Graeber and the more than 1000-year-old moral demonization of idleness in Christianity. Niederberger repeatedly intersperses quotes from the three-generation circle of friends and acquaintances he interviewed and presents information that complements, stimulates or sometimes refute statements made by others.

It is anything but a complex plea with advice elements that does not really offer any original insights. The author recommends moving away from purely operational busyness and moving towards purposeless enjoyment, especially in times when social and other digital distraction media lead to uninhibited restlessness. “It takes,” he quotes Eduard von Bauernfeld, a 19th century playwright, “a determination to do everything – even to enjoy it.” Because ultimately it’s about enjoyment and a meaningful life.

Doing nothing taken literally

Hanser-Verlag is presenting a true classic of modern idleness as the first German translation: Robert Paul Smith’s How to Do Nothing with Nobody All Alone by Yourself from 1958. The fact that the German publisher took doing nothing literally is evident from the fact that the English-language title was quickly adopted. Smith (1915–1977) worked as a radio writer, wrote two volumes of poetry, five novels, four children’s books and published half a dozen volumes of humorous texts.

The father of two’s language is catchy and the recommendations are practical in nature. How to build or craft something – as a child or a grown-up child. There are instructions for a tissue parachute or a paper boomerang that is guaranteed not to come back. On page 26 there is the representative sentence: “As I said, it’s pretty idiotic, but kind of fun.”

For some, this is reminiscent of Joachim Ringelnatzen’s darkly humorous children’s books, which make young parents pale today. Smith’s play suggestions also sometimes seem incompatible with children who are now digitally socialized. But that’s exactly why reading this creativity booklet is worth it. “I know,” writes Smith, “that some people view it with concern when children spend a lot of time alone. But there is something else that worries me even more: when children are unable to spend any time at all alone.”

Just be

Joseph Jebelli, a neuroscientist with a doctorate, provides psycho-biological facts as a basis for more creativity. Overworked, overstimulated, flooded with stimuli – this is Jebelli’s anamnesis of contemporary man. Accordingly, he asks provocatively: “But what if I told you that many people are successful in life not despite their inactivity, but because of her?”

Against this he sets the concept of niksen; His original word creation means: do nothing, just do it be. A time in which you find peace and quiet, distraction in a short-term nothingness that seems just as essential for relaxation as it is for intelligence, social empathy and long-term productivity. This supposed nothing can be a half-hour nap. Or a walk in the forest while work piles up on the desk. For example, Jebelli recommends: “If your concentration begins to wane, stare into space for 20 minutes. This increases intelligence and creativity.”

When you do nothing, the so-called resting state network becomes active, which plays an important role in processes such as remembering, planning and processing emotions. Jebelli cites many neuroimaging studies, burnout surveys and his own observations and events. It provides easy-to-read, practical advice and helpful suggestions on how to learn to do nothing. How does Jebelli write at the end of his book, which should be read at your leisure? “A rested brain is a powerful tool.”

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