10 ways to give your brain a rest: from three-minute techniques to complex skills

Why is it so important to be able to organize mental rest? The fact is that our brain is constantly working. Even when we perform an action that does not seem to require mental effort, it is working. Scientists have called this the “passive mode network”. We can hover in the clouds, but that wouldn’t be rest for the brain. So how can we help it? In a nutshell, the most important thing is to organize change. If you want real action, here’s a list of working techniques.

psychologist, art therapist, expert of the online school of psychological professions “Psychodemia”

“There are uncomplicated ways to distract yourself and make your brains rest. I’ll tell you about different options: from the simplest to more complicated ones, where you need to master certain skills.”

1. Change of activity

This is how we both give our brains a rest and help them stay at peak efficiency for longer. In the mode of continuous work is 40-50 minutes, and with “switching” – 2-3 hours.

The brain gets tired of monotony, so take short breaks during the workday (especially when it drags on). For example, every 20 minutes break for 1-3 minutes. It is convenient to set an alarm clock for this purpose.

The biggest objection here is: “If I take my mind off my work, I’ll have to get back into it.” This is actually true, but only if the break lasts longer than three minutes. Studies have been conducted in various countries to find out the best ratio of brain exercise to pause time.

The second important point is that the type of activity should be reversed. That is, if you were typing, get up and pour yourself some water, take a walk, stretch your body, water the flowers, do finger exercises.

2. Finger gymnastics

Many people know why it is useful to play “magpie” with small children. This fun exercise develops the child’s speech. Our hand is connected to the brain, and few people guess that this persists throughout life. Of course, in an adult, finger gymnastics does not develop speech, but activates certain areas of the brain.

Try to fold the index and middle fingers on your hands so that you get a “bunny”. Then quickly remove the middle finger and raise the little finger to make a “goat”. Now bend your index finger, raise your thumb and bring it to your ear to make a “phone”. You can do this and any other similar exercises. Your brain will rest.

3. Body warm-up

In our three-minute break will fit perfectly into physical exercises: any complex stretching, stretching or a short set of squats, bends, pelvic rotations, lifts from heel to toe.

Even more useful for the brain, in particular for training the vestibular apparatus will be exercises to maintain balance. For example, such as this. Put your right foot in front of your left, close your eyes, count to ten, keeping in place. If you succeed, open your eyes, extend your right hand in front of you, raise your thumb up. Move the hand with the raised finger from the center to the right side and, without turning your head, see off the thumb with a glance. Repeat ten times.

4. Stereograms

These are stereoscopic images that give the illusion of volume. They create a sense of relief and extension in depth due to the peculiarities of binocular vision. They are also called “smart eye” and “3D-images”.

They will not only give discharge and rest to the brain, but also relax the eyes. With regular practice (in tandem with Schulte tables), you can even correct minor vision problems.

5. Schulte Tables

Another one hundred percent way to relax your brain and take care of your eyes. This tool was invented to develop peripheral vision, concentration and parallel perception of information to “pump” the skill of speed reading. Try it to relieve brain tension. The great thing is that in this case we solve two problems at once – rest for the brain and vision correction.

6. Knitting

It is considered as yoga for the brain. Of course, if you knit all the time and approximately in the same technique, it will not help. But if, for example, you have long wanted to master macramé – it’s time to make it your hobby! The more diverse will be the techniques and ornate patterns, the more useful.

7. Dancing

This is the second activity from the category of “yoga for the brain”. Think it’s too late for you to start? It’s not! Learning a dance, new movements or styles creates a huge number of neural connections, distracts you from obsessive thoughts and worries, and switches your mind. A nice bonus – a slim and flexible body. Of course, let’s not forget about good mood. Health – this is also from the category of “bonuses” that we can get here. After all, both mental tension and bodily clamps are removed.

8. Making music

If this is not your routine activity, switching to notes and rhythms will be very effective! Think you have no hearing? Then catch the good news – it can be developed. Tip: check out drums – you need a sense of rhythm rather than hearing to practice them.

9. Art therapy

A drawing created in the psychologist’s office will be more useful than a paint-by-numbers drawing. In general, the power of art is incredible. If it seems that it is not for you, then perhaps you just have not found “yours”. In the modern world, there are many technical possibilities for solving the creative task: ebru, pastels, spirit ink and so on.

What and how do we draw? Try the “Throw Out” exercise for a quick release of tension. Put a piece of paper in front of you. Visualize all your thoughts and fatigue on the tip of a pencil. Touch the pencil lead to the sheet of paper and in one stroke, without stopping, draw a line – literally a doodle.

Check the state of your brain. Doesn’t it get easier? Take another color and a sheet of paper. If you want, you can turn the ready “emissions” into drawings, supplementing and finishing them. In this state you can create real masterpieces!

10. Preventive measures

Try not to bring your brain to fatigue. To do this, first of all, you should learn to listen to your body, calculate the possibilities and do not overload the psyche.

If it so happens that now you are going through a difficult time, how to give your brain a rest? Just try to do ordinary things differently:

• notice the changes around you – try to take note of things you haven’t seen before (flowers, trees, sky);
• do simple actions with your non-leading hand (button a button, hold cutlery, etc.);
• change familiar routes.