Swoveralls Comfort Club · September 2025 · Volume 3, Issue 6
The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing
By Kyle Bergman, Founder of Swoveralls ·
2017: me pretending to look like I’m candidly doing nothing when in reality I’m posing in a photoshoot.
The short version
This September issue is about the Dutch art of niksen, or doing nothing on purpose. Kyle Bergman explains how intentional idleness restores the nervous system, spotlights poet and longtime customer Dara Marsh, and shares the nonprofit We Got This.
In this issue
- A comfort hack on niksen, the Dutch practice of doing nothing
- Customer spotlight: poet Dara Marsh, a Swoveralls superfan with 8+ pairs
- Things we love: We Got This, a nonprofit gift registry for cancer patients
It’s September. The light’s a little softer, the evenings a little longer, and everyone’s deciding if this is the weekend they make chili. We’re here for a little comfort, a little love, and a reminder that you’re an amazing person before a breathing to-do list.
In this month’s newsletter:
- Comfort Hack: the Dutch art of doing nothing
- Customer Spotlight: Dara Marsh, poet and Swoveralls superfan
- Things we love: We Got This, started by our friend Elissa Kalver
Here we go.
The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing
There’s a Dutch word I love: niksen. It means doing nothing. Not scrolling. Not multitasking. Just being.
Niksen(’ing) sounds simple, yet it’s weirdly hard. We’re trained to optimize everything, even our downtime.
But intentional idleness gives your brain a breather and your nervous system a chance to downshift. Research suggests that unstructured time supports creativity, lowers stress, and helps your mind process life in the background. Think of it like airing out a room so the fresh air can get in.
So this month, try scheduling nothing. Sit by a window. Watch the sky change. Let your thoughts wander without judgment. I’m realizing comfort isn’t always about adding more. Sometimes it’s about allowing more.
Customer Spotlight: Dara Marsh
Poet Dara Marsh
Meet Dara Marsh, poet, fundraiser, and proud Swoveralls customer (8+ pairs). Dara has written five poetry books (you can explore them and more at darakalima.com), and when we spoke recently, she shared how comfort plays a role in both her everyday life and her creative work.
We laughed about how she hasn’t worn her Velour Swoveralls even once yet because she’s afraid she’d be touching herself the whole time, or people would be tempted to pet her.
I also loved how growing up she couldn’t stand corduroy, but now the Corduroy Swoveralls are some of her favorite pairs and feel like “a nice little hug.”
Dara reminded me that Swoveralls aren’t just clothing; they’re part of life’s little rituals. From Halloween costumes to poetry festivals to recovery days, they’ve been there for her. And it’s customers like Dara who remind us why we do what we do.
Thank you Dara for letting us share a little of your story, and being a part of this comfy fam. I can’t wait for your Velour Swoveralls debut.
Things We Love: We Got This
This month we want to spotlight We Got This, a nonprofit founded by our friend Elissa Kalver. Elissa is one of those incredible people who I like to describe as having an “amazing engine.” She is a founder, speaker, author, and most importantly, wife and mother.
After being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, Elissa realized people wanted to help, but didn’t know how. She turned the question “how can I help” into something practical, and founded We Got This. We Got This is a nonprofit gift registry for cancer patients that makes support tangible and useful. Patients can list what they actually need and loved ones can show up in meaningful ways.
Please check out We Got This if there’s someone you know who could benefit from the great support they provide.
We also want to send love to Swoveralls comfy fam member Bret Shuford, a Broadway performer and creative coach, who is courageously navigating treatment for HLH and T-cell lymphoma. Bret’s creativity and kindness have touched so many, and we’re rooting hard for his recovery.
Until next time...
Sometimes the bravest choice is putting on your softest clothes and giving yourself permission to exist without an agenda.
Yours in all my free waistband energy,
Founder | Chief Swoveralls Officer
PS - Have any comfort recommendations you’d like to share? Feel free to reply here and let me know. I’d be happy to include it in a future newsletter and of course give ya a shoutout.
PSS - Love this newsletter? Can’t stand it? Reply here and let me know and I’ll personally get back to you. Your feedback is a gift.
PSSS - If you made it this far, you might as well join our facebook group here (the Comfort Club).
Key takeaways
- Niksen is a Dutch word meaning doing nothing: not scrolling, not multitasking, just being.
- The newsletter notes that intentional idleness helps the nervous system downshift, and that research suggests unstructured time supports creativity, lowers stress, and helps the mind process life in the background.
- Longtime customer Dara Marsh is a poet with five poetry books and 8+ pairs of Swoveralls, and calls her Corduroy Swoveralls “a nice little hug.”
Frequently asked questions
What is niksen?
Niksen is a Dutch word that means doing nothing: not scrolling, not multitasking, just being. As the Swoveralls newsletter describes it, intentional idleness gives your brain a breather and your nervous system a chance to downshift, and research suggests unstructured time supports creativity, lowers stress, and helps your mind process life in the background.
What is We Got This?
We Got This is a nonprofit gift registry for cancer patients, founded by Elissa Kalver after her stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. It makes support tangible and useful: patients can list what they actually need, and loved ones can show up in meaningful ways.