Remember when boredom was a thing? Before smartphones, before 24/7 news cycles, before the pressure to be productive every second of the day? We used to let our minds wander. We used to daydream. And, as it turns out, we were onto something.
In our hyper-connected world, doing nothing feels like a waste of time. But neuroscience tells a different story. When we rest—truly rest—our brains enter what’s called the default mode network (DMN), a state crucial for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional processing. It’s where those “aha!” moments happen, where your subconscious connects dots you didn’t even know existed.
But instead of embracing the DMN, we scroll. We binge-watch. We answer emails at midnight. And we wonder why we feel burned out.
So, here’s a challenge: Give yourself permission to do nothing. No podcasts in the background, no to-do lists running through your head. Sit on a park bench. Stare at the ceiling. Let your thoughts drift. You might be surprised by what your brain does when you finally let it breathe.