Can your brain really "rot" over the summer?
Parents worry that kids will lose academic momentum over the "lazy" summer – and while fears of "brain rot" are natural, the real problem stems from too much screen time. In the real word, summer offers young minds unique opportunities to engage in spontaneous and self-guided activities that stimulate areas of the brain linked to imagination and self-reflection.SCIENCE SAYS:
The brain doesn't shut off when school stops; the brain craves new ideas and experiences throughout the summer. While it is true that chronic or protracted boredom can disrupt attention, mood and goals, brief moments of boredom can have an opposite effect, helping refresh thinking and provide space for much-needed self-reflection.WAYS TO BEGIN:
- Take a "brain break," and repeat throughout the day. Disconnect from technology and step back from focused thought for five (5) minutes, inducing brief boredom to help reset your brain and keep it charged.
- Protect your sleep to protect your brain energy. While you sleep, your brain cleans house, clearing toxins collected each day. If you don't get good sleep, the quality of your thinking is unavoidably impaired.
- Expand your positive social connections. Be present in the moment, looking to better understand the people around you. Making new connections and reconnecting with old friends helps people become habitual learners.
- Invite technology-free moments of calm. Seek out experiences that work for you, giving you space to reflect. Explore sensory experiences — music, smells, temperatures — and try reflective or meditative activities.
