On the shelves of the Charles Town library, you can find characters of action, romance and adventure. But you can also find a friendly sort of fellow who excels at doing nothing – Winnie-the-Pooh.
But Pooh just might have been taking advantage of an extremely important part of his brain while he tapped his chin and stared off into the distance in his Thinking Spot.
In our brains, we have a collection of structures that work together in what is called the Default Mode Network. It’s a dull name for a part of the brain that works best when we’re doing nothing at all, like just resting against a tree in the woods.
It is a common thing today to look for something to keep us busy constantly, especially with the handheld digital access devices that the majority of people carry with them every waking hour and perhaps even as they sleep.
Harvard University professor Arthur Brooks has presented extensively on how the brain needs time away from the stimulation projected from cellphones primarily to allow the brain to do some necessary work of its own.
Here at the library and museum, we are all about providing material to keep you connected and thinking, but Brooks and others stress that your brain needs “down time,” not to rest specifically, but to do some other things that are essential to achieving your potential.
“Modern society has significantly reduced opportunities for boredom, primarily through the constant use of mobile devices, which effectively “shut off” the default mode network,” said Brooks. “Crucially, allowing for boredom helps you delve into profound life questions concerning purpose, meaning, coherence, and significance, potentially leading to greater happiness.”
Summer is a great time to begin this practice as school is out and you might be heading out on vacation. So bring your book to the beach, then set it aside for a few moments, watch the waves, and like Pooh, do nothing. You’ll be glad you did.
