JUST NOTHING: Mind the human limits

We all know and feel the physical limits of our bodies; however, we rarely recognize and admit to the limits of our brains. 

We, as adults, make this mistake, and what is worse, we expect that our children should do the same - they should sit in school for eight hours a day without losing their focus. At the same time, we are certain that after one to two hours of intense physical activity the same kids are tired, and need at least 20 minutes of rest. So, why cannot we apply the same logic to any intensive brain activity?  

According to this article, our brains have two modes: the “focused mode,” which we use when we learn, write, calculate, or analyze something, and the “diffuse mode,” which is relaxed, day-dreaming mode when we do not think (hard). Contrary to our expectations, it seems that our intellectual potential is not achieved without the diffuse mode. In fact, the diffuse mode correlates with increased activity in the brain, as revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (the images show how the brain “lights up” during the diffuse mode).  

The daydreaming/diffuse mode has been utilized by scientists and artists in the past when they needed to solve  problems. For example, Thomas Edison, known for his many inventions, tried to relax to overcome a problem in his work. He would do this by switching to diffuse brain mode by getting into a state of almost falling asleep: he would doze while clutching a handful of ball-bearings. As soon as he went into too deep a sleep, his hand would relieve the grip and the noise of the falling ball-bearings would wake him up. In this relaxed state he would frequently find whatever solution he was searching for. 

Similarly, the artist Salvador Dali took a spoon in his hand when he relaxed on a chair; the moment he went napping, the spoon would fall and wake him up. This was the time when he could resume his creative work with fresh images and ideas.  Even we sometimes unintentionally benefit from the diffuse brain mode: probably all of us have had an eureka moment while relaxing under the shower or when waking up from sleep.  

There are different recommendations on how much time of diffuse mode we need per hour of focused mode, but it seems that the human brain thrives on one hour on, and 15 minutes off schedule.   Who knew that doing nothing, thinking about nothing, buying nothing, and even eating nothing is so beneficial?  

Actionable 
Allow yourself to daydream and do nothing.