In your busy days,
do you ever have “time to do nothing”?
Today, through work, smartphones, social media and more, we are exposed to a great deal of information all day long.
We look at our phones while commuting, check social media on breaks and watch videos at home.
Before we know it, many of us have brains that never stop taking in new information.
Your brain is working even when you zone out
Even during time when you seem to be “doing nothing,” the brain is not actually at rest.
Recent brain science has found that when we zone out, a brain network called the “default mode network (DMN)” becomes more active.
The DMN is thought to be involved in functions such as:
• Organizing information
• Consolidating memories
• Reflecting on ourselves
• Thinking about future plans
• Generating ideas
and more.
In other words, time spent zoning out is not “time doing nothing”; it could be called important maintenance time for the brain.
Is your life all about taking in information?
These days, many people probably find themselves opening their smartphones without thinking whenever they have a spare moment.
Of course, smartphones and social media are convenient tools that are essential to daily life.
But when the brain has less time to sort through information, it is thought this can lead to fatigue and reduced focus.
Even when the body is sitting and resting, the brain often keeps working without a break.
The brain needs “rest” too
Muscles recover through a cycle of exercise and rest.
In the same way, the brain needs time to switch between on and off.
Precisely because life is busy, try:
• Putting down your smartphone and gazing at the scenery
• Taking a deep breath
• Spending some quiet time
Moments of “doing nothing” like these may be just what helps your brain reset.
What we value at La HEAD
At La HEAD, drawing on years of hands-on experience and knowledge of the body gained at an osteopathic clinic, we treat not only the head but also the neck, shoulders, back of the head and arms.
Beyond the treatment itself, we are also particular about lighting and the design of our space, and we value offering time when guests can step away from everyday information and relax in body and mind.
Our guests have told us things like:
“For the first time in a long while, I could spend time without thinking about anything.”
“Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.”
“My head felt clearer.”
We are grateful to hear comments like these.
Because you’re busy, make time to pause
Doing your best isn’t only about keeping on the move.
Making time to do nothing is never “wasted time”; it is time your brain needs.
The busier your days are, the more you may benefit from pausing now and then and putting a little distance between yourself and the flood of information.