‘10 ways to be productive in quarantine’ and ‘My productive routine at home’ are the types of videos rocketing to the top of the charts on YouTube, becoming all the more central to current influencer culture.

I find myself clicking onto these videos amidst my many failed attempts at getting on with my dissertation, and end up feeling guilty that I’m not matching these levels of productivity by planning my daily routine to precision. I feel inadequacy not performing a sunrise yoga session on waking up, not baking new sweet concoctions every day, resisting endless hours of studying. I feel guilt at not being able to fill my day with some kind of productivity.

There seems to have been two perspectives established as a consensus on social media. Either, the one that reminds you you’re doing good, even if all you have done is make the bed, checked the news, and scrolled through Tik Tok. And the second, pressuring the incorporation of a balanced lifestyle into every single moment of your day; exercising, cooking, working and studying, and being positive. The former is very much something to go by, because perspective number two completely ignores the fact that we are all still adapting to a completely different lifestyle. I for one am still coming to terms with the fact that I will be sitting important final year exams up my kitchen table with family that have equally important work to complete.

I keep willing myself to remember that in this moment of eerie stillness, everybody is in the same boat. By attempting to employ some perspective, I feel calmer; I can worry about that mitigating circumstances claim later, for now, I am taking things day by day. We are living in a period of collective fear and guilt, and prioritising and protecting your mental health is fundamental. If that means staying in your pyjamas all day with your laptop on the sofa, then so be it!

There seems to be a profound emphasis on taking this opportunity of isolation to learn a new skill; to become that entrepreneur you have never had the chance to be. Perhaps you would feel fulfilled if you were to top next year’s Forbes list, but there is absolutely no need for pressure. There is enough pressure about at the moment to last us all a lifetime, so don’t worry about becoming a chef or a prima ballerina, just to prove your productivity. The quote ‘productivity does not define your self-worth’ comes to mind, because it is wholeheartedly true. Just because I have walked one less circuit around the park on my ‘state-allowed walk’, does not make me a worse person in any way (even if my mum had to drag me out in the first place).

One of the Cambridge Dictionary’s definitions of ‘productive’, simply translates to ‘having positive results’. Therefore, if your non-productivity has ‘positive results’, such as feeling slightly less anxious or putting on your favourite socks, then that is productive in itself.

Niksen (The Art of Doing Nothing)

You may or may not have heard of this Northern European concept, but either way now is the perfect time to embrace its meaning! ‘Niksen’ is a Dutch verb that literally translates to ‘doing nothing’. It stems from other European concepts such as the Danish adopted ‘Hygge (pronounced as hoo-gah, if you are wondering) which is incorporated into one’s lifestyle by recognising moments of ‘cosiness’ in certain things and feelings, both in the ordinary and extraordinary. For instance, amidst these unprecedented times, you might acknowledge a certain feeling of ‘wellness and contentment’ from simply sitting and eating breakfast with your family, or watching a film whilst face timing your grandma. Granted, the concept may still be subjective, but its meaning to you is worth noting in your everyday life; moments of cosiness are essential to times like these.

Before exploring Niksen, the Swedish word ‘Lagom’ is another interesting concept worth recalling, even if it is just to pass a bit more time in lockdown. The word has various translations, but its universal meaning considers the importance of balance and moderation, that there is ‘just the right amount’ of something. We are people of the moment, which also happens to mean that we are very fond of getting caught up in the task at hand, ending up putting all of our efforts into one thing. Whether that is work, studying, dieting, or simply your hobby of the moment…. I’m guilty of it… you’ll find me in the gym every day of one particular week, but then I will fail to make an appearance for months after that. The moral of Lagom’s story is to read/write/create when you feel like it, to rest when you need to, and to study when you can.

Now finally, what you you’ve all been waiting for: Niksen…aka the art of doing nothing! The beauty of being idle and without a purpose…the perfect philosophy to implement when you’re fed up of social media telling you to be productive. We can often find ourselves caught up in the fast-paced lifestyle of society’s routine, always doing something, with barely a moment of nothing. But as we temporarily leave that fast-paced atmosphere in the past, now is the perfect time to perfect the art of nothingness. A number of research studies have found that the temptation to always be working, or at least doing something all of the time, results in a negative and exhaustive effect on a person’s general performance and wellbeing.

The New York Times recently communicated the importance of idleness in an article exploring Niksen last year. It recognised that even just being on your phone and scrolling through social media, does not constitute as fully embracing idleness. It promotes idleness as resulting in accomplishment and productivity, due to the brain being encouraged to wander and daydream without explicit instruction. What is the point in trying to do something when you are simply not motivated? Instead, consciously take the time to gaze out of a window, with no goal in mind, or aimlessly listen to music… you might end up being ‘productive’ after all (without meaning to, anyway).

The words of Matt Haig are a perfect place to finish: ‘These are not normal times so we shouldn’t have normal expectations. Whether it’s working from home or homeschooling or whatever, let’s not beat ourselves up. Allow ourselves to exist rather than achieve.’

By Hannah Bradfield

My name is Hannah and I am currently in my final year at Loughborough, studying English and Sport Science; so basically, studying Shakespeare or screenwriting one moment, and sport psychology the next. I am hoping to stay on at Loughborough next year to undertake the MA programme in Media and Cultural Analysis. You will usually find me picking apart the latest BBC drama, obsessing over new shoes that I don’t need, or making a coffee. Most likely, all of the above.