The Importance of Active Rest: Why Our Mind Craves a 5-Minute Reset
Have you ever caught yourself staring at a computer screen instead of doing your work? Or, you get stuck while performing mundane kitchen activities? That’s an indicator that our brain is tired. As brain fog settles down, we simply freeze and can’t be productive.
Sitting still doing nothing or grabbing our phone and doomscrolling may seem like a quick solution that will magically improve our mental state. Unfortunately, passive rest, like letting our mind wander or scrolling through social media feeds, can make things even worse.
What our brain truly craves is a shift of focus, an activity that will calm down our nervous system. Although this may seem counterintuitive, we need active rest.
What Is Active Rest?
Active rest is a concept that involves an activity that won’t shut us down completely. Instead, it will shift our focus to a low-intensity task, one that doesn’t require complex decisions. Such an activity turns off the executive part of our brain and lets the playful part take over.
One of the activities that can help your brain rest actively is so-called micro-gaming. You can, for instance, play the best free solitaire online for 5 minutes. As you arrange shuffled cards into piles, your nervous system can reset.
Why 5 Minutes Is All You Need?
The maximum amount of time we can spend working efficiently without taking a break is 90 to 120 minutes. After that, our brains need rest, and shorter breaks have proved effective at enabling this as they are accessible. We may not be able to leave our workload for an hour, but taking a 5-minute break is manageable.
A recent study found that playing a casual video game for only 5 minutes could reduce stress markers by 25%. Decreased cortisol levels can help you restore the clarity you need to resume your work, so these breaks are also rewarding for your brain. By completing a simple task, like arranging a digital card deck, you’ll get a quick dopamine fix. It’s a signal for your brain that it can relax.
Finally, 5-minute active rest is refreshing. After working on a complex task that requires making decisions, a short break can help you restore concentration. When it comes to micro-gaming, you must keep your sessions short and intentional so that they remain a productive tool, not a distraction.
Other Ways to Reset Your Brain
The type of work you need rest from and your working environment may limit what your active rest will be. However, options are myriad, so you can always make a choice based on your personal preferences. Apart from micro-gaming, here are other activities that can help you increase mental clarity:
- Breathe mindfully: So-called box breathing is accessible wherever you are. It involves inhaling for 4 seconds, then holding your breath, exhaling and holding your lungs empty for the same amount of time in this order.
- Chop vegetables rhythmically: This can make an everyday chore feel therapeutic. Just let the knife’s rhythmic motion take you into a meditative state.
- Draw with your hand: In an office environment, doodle for 5 minutes using a pen and paper. Drawing repetitive patterns or shapes lets your creative brain take over while the analytical part rests.
There are many other creative ways to get your nervous system to relax. Whichever activity you go for, always remember that active rest is not a distraction. It’s an investment in your mental wellness.
