Photo by Andrew Tanglao on Unsplash

A PANDEMIC PARADOX

In the past, our homes were places for rest and recovery—a refuge from work, school, and other outside pursuits. Furthermore, schools, offices, and other work environments may have been where we expended most of our mental exertion. In recent days, more mental activity and exertion occurs inside the home than ever before. A paradox of the coronavirus pandemic is that while we are outside the home less, our need for refuge is more.

RESTORATIVE BREAKS ARE BENEFICIAL

Thinking, learning, remembering, being aware of surroundings, and using judgment are mental processes we all use and are using more frequently now. The extent to which mental processes drain energy may not be as obvious as physical fatigue but, in both cases, restorative breaks are beneficial. We have all been mentally taxed by disruption and massive unplanned change. 

PURPOSEFULLY TAKING BREAKS FROM
MENTAL EXERTION

Now it is August—a time for breaks in our routine or, if we’re lucky, a vacation. Why not deepen the restoration of these breaks by purposefully taking breaks from mental exertion? Conversations, crafts, and cooking all offer respite from constant external stimulation and mental processing. “When we cook things, we transform them.” writes Tamar Adler. “And any small acts of transformation are among the most human things we do. Whether it’s nudging dried leaves around a patch of cement, or salting a tomato, we feel, when we exert tiny bits of our human preference in the universe, more alive.”

Short escapes add up. Even brief mental breaks—like reading the poem below—calm the body into a deeper state of relaxation. These simple but powerful ideas are just a start. Take more control of your life and well-being by joining the High Health Network today.

Joyce M. Young, MD, MPH
Managing Director, Advanced Wellness Systems

Photo by Simon Wilkes on Unsplash

Beside the roadway
a flowing of clear water
in a willow’s shade
I thought for just a short while
to linger and take a rest.
—Saigyo 

Sincerely,
Your colleagues at Advanced Wellness Systems