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Jun 2
5 Reasons a Brain Should Unwire for the Weekend

 

One in five people tote computers on their holidays -- according to an AP-Ipsos poll released Friday. I was also intrigued by BL Ochman’s question today … How often do you allow yourself to go unwired … which she found over at Jeff Pulver's blog.

BL admitted to just spending the weekend unwired, and it was great. In her words… “It's something I rarely ever do, if only because the email pile-up is too awful to contemplate on a regular basis. And most people I know are rarely, if ever, totally out of the online loop. While I was off-line, friends actually chappy_weekend_01.gifalled when "want to see a movie?" or "what are you doing tomorrow?" emails went unanswered. By Sunday I felt really relaxed, and my always sore hands were happier.”

As I read these interesting posts and the discussions they generated about addiction to online activity … I was thinking that it’s actually good for the brain to move offline occasionally. How so?

Here are 5 benefits to your brain - if you go unwired for the odd weekend….

1. When you put yourself in unfamiliar places – you are less likely to fall into ruts. It’s called Hebbian learning and it stifles productivity, because it literally reshapes your brain for narrow outputs that can slow you down.

2. A weekend offline will rewire dendrite brain connectors for growing new intelligences. You have at least eight distinctive intelligences of which 3 or 4 at the most are engaged while online. Take in music, attend the theater, hike, or just plain play and you’ve already activated new brain cells off screen.

3. Relate to people and places that are less tuned into online networks, and watch new synergies fly. Ideas emerge, solutions seem simpler, and a wider vision is often scoped – simply because you jumpstart hidden and unused parts of the brain.

4. See things from new angles because you are looking at your day through different windows of your mind.  Believe it or not your brain waves will actually shift to facilitate different results from your online beta, alpha, theta, delta wave patterns

5. Move more than computer work allows, and that activity increases blood flow and oxygen to fuel your brain. Kick up your heals to a dance and the rhythms can even induce enzymes for better moods.

Not a bad takeaway for the brain – simply by stepping away from the online screen for a weekend break. 

Any other benefits you see for the unwired brain?


6 Comments/Trackbacks




Taking the whole weekend off for some is very difficult. If you practice some of the techniques, including participating in some kind of sport over the weekend how long is enough to regenerate yourself? Say you take at least eight hour each day doing something outside of work or school.

Gene -- great to have you stop by!! Truth be known, I think people like you and I need to heed these words even more:-)

I am trying to convince myself more lately too -- even if that means one may have to plan more but it's worth it.

Hey - all those benefits to the brain seemed convincing to me anyway. I loved your keen suggestion to get people started! Thanks.

Ouch!! Now you're getting personal! As I was reading this post all I could hear was my wife's voice saying, "See! See! Turn that thing off!"

Seriously, Ellen. This is a very timely post. Thanks for the challenge and reminder.

(one question...did you write this on the weekend?);)

Tom, you are too funny. Yes, I am writing on the weekend - because I leave for Europe for two week in a few days ...:-) Excuses ... excuses ... Good thing I was quoting another blogger who went wireless for the weekend and not myself - who did not:-)

Still I saw the value in fuel for the brain -- and also liked gene's ideas for times during the week as we can. I am doing that more and more -- and often add golf to a day when I can:-). It was a great reminder:-)

Hey, how are you anyway friend. What's up?

I don't have any brain-based additions, but this seems like it sychronizes with the "sabbath" or rest from labor that all religions call for.

On a personal level, I've tracked personal performance for a working five day week since I was in my twenties and I know that, for me, the workweek is more productive if I have a full day off. I get more accomplished. I suspect, but don't know, that I also get more ideas in my time off and the time immediately following than on workdays.

That also tracks with research the Air New Zealand did on vacations where they found that people were significantly (that's a word you use when you don't have the reference handy) more productive after return from vacation.

Wally, thanks for stopping by and for the fine addition you added - which highlights a deep spiritual dimension of the brain and - so is very brain based!

The concept of rest - as you described it so well - is shown in a new light here and in our lives when we let Sabbath happen. Great reminder of the Selah opportunities that pass us by unless we stop to value them!

So glad you jumped in with this key dimension!

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