Get Some Rest, But Have Some Fun

A week from now, you all will be unbound from the academic commitments of the semester. It will be a huge relief and will bring a great sense of freedom, as you will enjoy close to a month before the spring semester starts on January 11. We all have heard of the countless benefits of leisure time. For me, this was best understood in an article I read about the brain. Surprisingly, the brain’s main function is not in thinking; it is in keeping the body healthy by anticipating and estimating the body’s surpluses and deficits. That is, our brain’s principal task is to run the systems of our body by predicting and preparing to meet the body’s needs before they arise.

According to recent findings in neuroscience, even when our brain does produce conscious thoughts and feelings, they are more in service to the needs of managing our body than we realize. Dr. Lisa Barrett, a psychologist and neuroscientist, and author of the article “You Brain Is Not for Thinking,” says, "Your brain is not for thinking.  Everything that it conjures, from thoughts to emotions to dreams, is in the service of body budgeting. This perspective, adopted judiciously, can be a source of resilience in challenging times.” She uses the metaphor of budgeting to help us understand the spending of our physical resources (learning, exercising, working, worry) and the actions that reload our resources, which ultimately help us cope with stress and give a sense of well-being (sleeping, taking naps, eating well, hobbies, etc.). College life in general is difficult and challenging on many different fronts and levels. COVID restrictions have added another lump of expenditures on our reserves, so most likely those reserves need to be brought up to a higher level during the break. That way, when the next semester starts, we have the stamina to address our new adventures and challenges with a positive outlook. Even in hard times, there's the possibility of having fun in a constructive way, so invest in yourself by doing activities that replenish your body, mind and soul.

Have a wonderful winter break and see you in January!

The article is very interesting, well written, and an easy read--a perfect leisure activity.