“Doing nothing” is the best trend for 2022 –

The Dutch have an interesting term that has been gaining popularity lately: niksen. The word defines a lifestyle concept based on “doing nothing”. Is at burnout times and general tiredness, the result of the coronavirus pandemic, it must be agreed that doing nothing can be very interesting.

But the concept is becoming popular for a reason: it actually sets a trend for 2022, the idea of ​​slowing down and making more room for moments of leisure and rest unplanned. That is, for times when there are no plans and people feel free to do whatever they want, without a need for productivity or imminent action.

Understanding this tendency is important from a mental point of view, as there has never been so much talk about mental healthand taking care of the mind is, in fact, essential.

Mental health and routine

According to the psychiatrist doctor Rovilson Cunha Juniorit is important to understand that terms episodes of sadness and melancholy they are part of life and are emotional responses to everyday events – see the pandemic itself. “What is unnatural is the recurrence and persistence of these feelings.“, he explains. “If feelings of sadness, discouragement, hopelessness and unwillingness to do simple everyday activities are frequent in the individual’s life, this is a sign that the person may not be well mentally.”

To know deal with emotions is essential in the pursuit of mental well-being, and self-knowledge is a fundamental step for that too. In this, a series of elements come into play, including the routine, with their everyday activities and dealing with unforeseen circumstances or unexpected changes.

“Routine is a very important point for the well-being of the individual. We know that if a person has a more hectic, tiring and stressful routine, that individual will probably be inclined to have more frequent episodes of anxiety or irritation”, says the doctor. “If a person has a calmer, more relaxed routine, with natural breaks and task limits, he tends to feel less anxious and less overwhelmed by everyday events; this is directly linked to his well-being.”

In this way, pay attention to sensations and feelings generated by the routine they are a way to understand how much she is contributing to a positive mental health or to a decline in this state of well-being.

The role of leisure in mental health

And this is where the advantages of idle time come in, that is, of “doing nothing”. For the doctor, as we are constantly thinking about what we can produce, do on weekends, or where we want to be in 5 years, the brain doesn’t stop. “As much as we think this is natural and not tiring, unconsciously our brain is wearing out. Augusto Cury identified this mental attitude as the accelerated thinking syndrome”, he explains.

The Accelerated Thinking Syndrome is an alteration in which the mind remains full of thoughts, being full the entire time the person is awakemaking concentration difficult, increasing anxiety and physical and mental exhaustion. “Thus, the problem with this syndrome is not related to the content of the thoughts, which are generally interesting, cultured and positive, but rather to their quantity and the speed with which they happen inside the brain”, he says.

In this way, people seek to produce more and more, without giving the brain a break, which can trigger psychic and even organic diseases. “That’s why, it is essential to have some downtime so that our mind has moments of rest, without needing to be caught up in ‘mandatory’ thoughts, letting thoughts take us where the subconscious wants at that moment, without effort, pressure or guilt”, he explains. “Furthermore, idle time helps to recompose our mindso that we can come back with greater creativity to perform new tasks.

In other words, include in the routine moments of decompression and relaxation are fundamental in maintaining physical and mental health, and help in the development of creativity, improve mood, among other aspects of an individual’s daily life. “In the long run, not only mental health will benefit from better relationships, productivity and performance, but the body will also feel the effects of this“, it says. “We know that mental illnesses are the gateway to many health problems and, as we fight what generates the whole process, we also benefit from preventive health care. With this, we apply, from mental health, the concept of Primary Health Care, in terms of disease prevention and bio-psycho-social well-being.”