Intelligence Squared The Art of Rest, with Claudia Hammond and Helen Czerski
Dec 22, 2020
Claudia Hammond, an award-winning author and broadcaster renowned for her work on psychology, joins physicist Helen Czerski to discuss the art of rest. They explore how true rest is more than just sleep; it's essential for mental health. Hammond shares insights from her Global Rest Test, revealing surprising personal definitions of rest and how societal views on busyness can create guilt around downtime. They also touch on the benefits of walking for well-being, the impact of reading on our mood, and the disruptive role of technology in achieving restorative rest.
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The Resting Brain
- The brain is more active during rest than when performing focused tasks like math problems.
- This "default mode network" engages during daydreaming and may consolidate memories, solve problems, and rehearse future scenarios.
Bias Against Rest
- Societal biases often portray rest as laziness, linking busyness with status.
- Studies show that people perceive busy individuals as more organized and having more meaningful jobs.
Reading and Rest
- Reading, though cognitively engaging, allows for guilt-free rest and escape.
- It can also serve as a starting point for daydreaming, further enhancing its restful qualities.
