Resting and undirected learning
From my current book:
"For a good portion of any day, we are bombarded with external forms of stimulation that require directed, as opposed to undirected thinking. Directed thinking requires that we concentrate our focus on a particular task or conundrum, whereas undirected thinking is neither coherent nor goal-oriented, but allows the mind to wander, as in dreaming and daydreaming.
Unfortunately, our hectic and time-pressured lives rarely provide the space for a roving mind. Modern technology and digital forms of communication call for seemingly continual directed thinking -- we are inundated with emails, texts, Snapchats; each ping on our device demanding instant attention and response. We worry about wasting time, yet pore over articles on productivity, time management and super-achievers' effectiveness tips. Perhaps, being busy all the time, not thinking too deeply or letting the mind wander, are defense mechanisms -- don't think, just keep going, block out troubling feelings that might be bubbling under the surface of a seemingly organized and ordered life.
In 2010, a LexisNexis survey of 1,700 white-collar workers in the United States, the UK, Australia, China and South Africa revealed that, on average, employees spent more than half their workdays receiving, responding to and organizing their emails, rather than using the information conveyed within to do their jobs.
But studies indicate that undirected thinking is vital for creativity, productivity and, most importantly, our mental health. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology at the University of California and author of The How of Happiness, suggests that periods of mental time out are necessary for us to flourish, or as the Alexander Technique teaches to 'not-do', but instead to occasionally 'just be'. Downtime, it seams, is as essential to the brain as healthy food and regular exercise are to our bodies.
When we are absorbed in teh process of making, our minds rest and roam. Feelings and ideas that might otherwise be blocked or drowned out by the demands of directed thinking take root and hopefully inspire new ideas, projects and creations.
Research shows that even when we are relaxing or daydreaming, the brain is anything but idle. Downtime replenishes the brain's stores of attention and motivation, and encourages productivity and creativity. Research also indicates that any number of activities where the brain and the hand connect in absorbing and deliberate, repetitive, focused movements (such as knitting, weaving, sewing, even chopping vegetables) can be useful for diffusing stress and distracting the mind from unhelpful rumination and negative thinking loops." (pp. 47-48 from Craftfulness: mend yourself by making things by Rosemary Davidson and Arzu Tahsin)
It's probably no surprise that I love this. Our brains need rest. If our adult brains need rest how much more do our children's brains? So please, turn off their devices. Let them be bored. Give them raw materials to be creative with. And let their brains do some undirected learning. For that matter, do the same things for yourself.
"For a good portion of any day, we are bombarded with external forms of stimulation that require directed, as opposed to undirected thinking. Directed thinking requires that we concentrate our focus on a particular task or conundrum, whereas undirected thinking is neither coherent nor goal-oriented, but allows the mind to wander, as in dreaming and daydreaming.
Unfortunately, our hectic and time-pressured lives rarely provide the space for a roving mind. Modern technology and digital forms of communication call for seemingly continual directed thinking -- we are inundated with emails, texts, Snapchats; each ping on our device demanding instant attention and response. We worry about wasting time, yet pore over articles on productivity, time management and super-achievers' effectiveness tips. Perhaps, being busy all the time, not thinking too deeply or letting the mind wander, are defense mechanisms -- don't think, just keep going, block out troubling feelings that might be bubbling under the surface of a seemingly organized and ordered life.
In 2010, a LexisNexis survey of 1,700 white-collar workers in the United States, the UK, Australia, China and South Africa revealed that, on average, employees spent more than half their workdays receiving, responding to and organizing their emails, rather than using the information conveyed within to do their jobs.
But studies indicate that undirected thinking is vital for creativity, productivity and, most importantly, our mental health. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology at the University of California and author of The How of Happiness, suggests that periods of mental time out are necessary for us to flourish, or as the Alexander Technique teaches to 'not-do', but instead to occasionally 'just be'. Downtime, it seams, is as essential to the brain as healthy food and regular exercise are to our bodies.
When we are absorbed in teh process of making, our minds rest and roam. Feelings and ideas that might otherwise be blocked or drowned out by the demands of directed thinking take root and hopefully inspire new ideas, projects and creations.
Research shows that even when we are relaxing or daydreaming, the brain is anything but idle. Downtime replenishes the brain's stores of attention and motivation, and encourages productivity and creativity. Research also indicates that any number of activities where the brain and the hand connect in absorbing and deliberate, repetitive, focused movements (such as knitting, weaving, sewing, even chopping vegetables) can be useful for diffusing stress and distracting the mind from unhelpful rumination and negative thinking loops." (pp. 47-48 from Craftfulness: mend yourself by making things by Rosemary Davidson and Arzu Tahsin)
It's probably no surprise that I love this. Our brains need rest. If our adult brains need rest how much more do our children's brains? So please, turn off their devices. Let them be bored. Give them raw materials to be creative with. And let their brains do some undirected learning. For that matter, do the same things for yourself.
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