Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests • Hacker News Board

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#11

Post by theshrike79 » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:34 PM UTC

I've said this a thousand times and will repeat it until I die:

The #1 job for a parent is to make sure their children are bored out of their minds regularly. Take away the sources of easy serotonin (usually the smartphone), either by taking the kid outside without it or whatever works for you.

For example if you're on a 20 minute car ride as a family, the kids don't need to be on their smart device every second of the way - preferably at all. It's OK to be bored and just have your own thoughts to keep you entertained.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#12

Post by nerdbaggy » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:35 PM UTC

I did a one hour float tank session before. It’s very interesting and kinda hard experience being with only yourself floating in water for a full hour.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#13

Post by lumb63 » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:36 PM UTC

civilized wrote: post #4

> It is important to note that participants did not rate thinking as an extremely enjoyable task, but simply as more enjoyable than they thought it would be, according to Murayama. On average, participants’ enjoyment level was around 3 to 4 on a 7-point scale Subtitle: you'll have a mediocre time doing it, but it'll be better than you expected!

As if that were not bad enough, the news-checking group seemed to enjoy their time more than the thinking group.

The article seems to be pitching the study as showing that thinking is preferable to other activities, but the data shows that simply isn’t the case.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#14

Post by formerly_proven » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:36 PM UTC

chadlavi wrote: post #5

dexwiz wrote: post #3

I wonder how much of the current anxiety wave that seems to have stricken Millennials and Gen Z is because they have no idea how to be alone with their thoughts. Anecdotally, I have heard a great many jokes about needing a distraction due to negative internal discourse. Like if they are left alone for more than 5 minutes by themselves, they will inevitably spiral into depression. I have people in my life that need a…

Well, that and the world is a pretty terrible place. Think about it for too long and you'll get pretty depressed.

"The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better."

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#15

Post by anvandare » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:37 PM UTC

"Tout le malheur des hommes vient d’une seule chose, qui est de ne savoir pas demeurer en repos dans une chambre."

"All the unhappiness of men arises from a single fact, which is from not knowing how to stay at rest in a room."

(Blaise Pascal, Pensées, 139)

It is no coincidence that the word 'idle' means both 'doing nothing' and 'being worthless'. I could write out a longer comment with some more thoughts on the health of a society that is obsessed with productivity and 'staying busy', but I'd rather spend those minutes doing nothing instead.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#16

Post by vorpalhex » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:41 PM UTC

chadlavi wrote: post #5

dexwiz wrote: post #3

I wonder how much of the current anxiety wave that seems to have stricken Millennials and Gen Z is because they have no idea how to be alone with their thoughts. Anecdotally, I have heard a great many jokes about needing a distraction due to negative internal discourse. Like if they are left alone for more than 5 minutes by themselves, they will inevitably spiral into depression. I have people in my life that need a…

Well, that and the world is a pretty terrible place. Think about it for too long and you'll get pretty depressed.

The world is generally a better place than it has ever been. That trend seems to continue.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#17

Post by dQw4w9WgXcQ » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:46 PM UTC

theshrike79 wrote: post #11

I've said this a thousand times and will repeat it until I die: The #1 job for a parent is to make sure their children are bored out of their minds regularly. Take away the sources of easy serotonin (usually the smartphone), either by taking the kid outside without it or whatever works for you. For example if you're on a 20 minute car ride as a family, the kids don't need to be on their smart device every second of t…

100%. A book, a backyard and a stick is all kids need. For each birthday they get an additional book and stick.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#18

Post by lampshades » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:46 PM UTC

Sometimes I wonder if our preoccupation with information consumption is a catalyst for our inability to have epiphanic thought.

We’d probably have more Einstein-like breakthroughs in science if we weren’t constantly reading to find the answer and instead let our minds connect into the collective consciousness that already knows all.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#19

Post by xcambar » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:50 PM UTC

As I grew older, there are certain things I have learned to enjoy more, such as slowness, inaction, loneliness, boredom.

Boredom is typically the most controversial, so the reason here is that boredom first allows for moments you want out of, but also there's more: It expands the range of comfort zone of emotions and sets the ground floor of your emotions low enough that you can actually welcome more experiences as rather good. That limits the number of "meh" moments drastically. Beware though that setting the ground floor of your emotions lower doesn't mean it lowers down the average "feeling of happiness" in your life.

The thing I reject the most today is the constant pressure for action, movement and performance. I used to love them though but now, nearing 40, I see them a way to escape rather than embrace what life has to offer.

Re: Put down devices, let your mind wander, study suggests

#20

Post by pomian » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 9:52 PM UTC

chadlavi wrote: post #5

dexwiz wrote: post #3

I wonder how much of the current anxiety wave that seems to have stricken Millennials and Gen Z is because they have no idea how to be alone with their thoughts. Anecdotally, I have heard a great many jokes about needing a distraction due to negative internal discourse. Like if they are left alone for more than 5 minutes by themselves, they will inevitably spiral into depression. I have people in my life that need a…

Well, that and the world is a pretty terrible place. Think about it for too long and you'll get pretty depressed.

The world, is full of goodness, hope, progress and humour. But, you need to accept that in between all the media (news) that focuses on the negative, and bad noise. Look at a parent playing with a kid, look at a kitten, look at a doctor, look at a teacher. Saving, creating, improving lives, in spite of the negativity of the 'press'.