Olga Mecking is a writer, journalist, and translator based in the Netherlands, and she’s the reporter who made Niksen (“doing nothing”) go viral. Her New York Times article on the subject was shared over 100,000 times. In this episode, Annmarie and Olga talk about the health and creativity benefits of doing nothing and why it is that pauses, rests, and breaks too often feel out of reach for our overworked selves.

Episode Sponsors:

The American Book Center – Booksellers with a personal touch. This family-owned bookstore, opened in 1972, has been quirky, friendly and knowledgeable from the start, and just counting our present staff, we represent more than 700 years of combined bookselling experience. Our Amsterdam location is often listed as one of the Ten Most beautiful Bookshops in the World, and our stores are highly rated for assortment and personal service. Drop by to touch and smell the books, or shop online at abc.nl.

International Writers' Collective – The Collective offers fiction and poetry workshops online and in the Netherlands and a vibrant international community to support you in your writing goals. Many students view their program as a cheaper and more flexible alternative to an MFA. Learn more and find a class at internationalwriterscollective.com.

Titles Discussed in This Episode:

Niksen: The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing, by Olga Mecking

One Chance in a Thousand: A Holocaust Memoir, by Jan Balicki and Olga Mecking

Here’s the trailer for FLASHDANCE.

Here’s the video for YELLOW SUBMARINE by the Beatles.

Follow Olga Mecking:

Instagram: @olgamecking

Twitter: @OlgaMecking

Facebook: @OlgaMeckingWriter

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