Sometimes our minds falter. They falter from exhaustion, from emotional fragility, or because we need to take a little break...

Pauses are part of music, the seasons, and productivity at work. Every brain needs rest—from childhood through adulthood, or from Generation A to Generation Alpha*. Today, thanks to the pandemic, we know firsthand just how crucial it is to manage and prioritize the timing of our activities for our overall health and education.

Rest, or rather, “relieving” fatigue, brings about renewal, as we can see from the workings of our “life machine”—the true creator of everything, in the words of neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis: the brain—through our need for sleep, for example. Every day, we need to experience sleep to some extent so that we can live another day.

I can’t help but recall that the word “vacation” comes from the Latin *feriae*, which referred to the days when the Romans did not work for religious reasons. The words *vacaciones* (Spanish), *vacances* ( French), and *vacation* (English) are all derived from *vacare*, meaning “to be empty.”

Yes, vacations have to do with emptiness, empty space. The space of absence creates room for presence—have you ever thought about that? I’ve always liked the idea of an empty vessel signifying a wealth of possibilities. Only emptiness can be filled. Putting the poetic tone aside, the break that vacations provide and the emptiness of those vacations serve to renew us and replenish our strength and energy. The digital age takes up so much of our time that we don’t realize just how much staying connected consumes us. People talk about a digital detox, but here I’m also talking about a detox from heavy and often harmful thoughts—the ones that set traps for us, even going so far as to sabotage your reading of this article or any other that might make you reflect just enough to take action. After all, according to our brain, that’s the function of thoughts.

I invite you, right now and without any sense of guilt, to rethink the way you usually plan and take your vacations, because they are not a luxury, but rather a prescription for your physical, emotional, and mental health.

Often, we can’t travel or do what we’d planned, but that doesn’t stop you from giving yourself a gift—a different kind of gift! I suggest that your gift be time. Yes, give yourself time to do more of the things you enjoy. Take a “break” from the things you don’t like. During the time you’ve set aside, try doing your activities in a different way. Have you ever tried the “raisin” experience? If not, look for the “raisin meditation” audio on the NeuroConecte website. It will provide a relaxing experience—a unique and, at the very least, intriguing one—to give your weary neurons a rest.

But what about children, kids, or students?

The brain’s rule doesn’t apply only to adults. Children, in particular, need empty spaces to be filled with play, room for creativity, and spontaneous experiences where the only rules are health, safety, and good manners. To experiment, to appreciate, to experience. During vacation time, it becomes easier to encourage more analog forms of play and put digital ones on pause. To create and enjoy “do-nothing” days—to swim in possibilities and cultivate “emotional renewal” without even realizing it—because seeking out new experiences brings pleasure and stimulates the brain.

Children know better how to rest their minds. They tend to be more spontaneous and instinctive. Adults, on the other hand, can be more intuitive when they make time for leisure and relaxation. And, of course, I can’t help but mention the studies by Domenico de Masi, author of the book *Creative Leisure*, which discusses the importance of balance between work, study, and personal life. But here I’m really talking about vacations!

So let's go ahead and hum that song by Gilberto Gil: 

I'm going to enjoy my vacation, because “vacations don't usually last long, oh la, lá!”

 

Tips for adults to play and enjoy their vacation—after all, a relaxed adult fosters more fulfilling relationships with children and others:

• Playing lots of games, painting, drawing, singing, meditating...;
• Watching romances—they can be the really “soap-opera-ish” ones. If you haven’t seen the movie *Inside Out* (by Pixar), now’s the time!;
• Try something different—something you've always wanted to do or that just “came to mind” in the moment;
• Read poetry;
• When you think about your “to-do list” (a list of tasks or things you need to do for next year), just make the list—if it makes you feel better.
• Here's to spending time with family and friends;
• Take time for yourself. Don't take time away from yourself!

 

 

References:

*Perennials: Considered “ageless,” they may be people over 60 who remain up-to-date, or people from other decades; they are welcoming, friendly, and experienced.

Baby boomers: born between 1945 and 1964, they value family and financial stability and are not open to change.

              Generation X: Born between 1965 and 1979, they have a deeper understanding of the world and seek independence and security.

              Millennials or Generation Y: people born between 1980 and 1996, when the world was becoming more technologically advanced, particularly with the advent of the internet.

Generation Z: born between the late 1990s and the 2010s, this group includes digital natives who are highly tech-savvy and engaged in social and environmental causes.

            Generation Alpha: 100% digital—they can no longer imagine a world without screens.

 

Learn more about the author:

 

Adriana Fóz, Master of Science in Psychiatry and Medical Psychology from UNIFESP; Educator (USP); specialist in Neuropsychology and Psychopedagogy. Director of NeuroConecte. Member of the Advisory Board of the ABRINQ Foundation. Researcher in Cognitive and Educational Neuroscience and Cognitive Therapist for adolescents and adults (in-person and online). Professor, Speaker (including at TEDx), and Writer. Co-founder and former director of the Cuca Legal Project (Psychiatry/UNIFESP) and member of the board of directors of the Brazilian Society of Neuropsychology. Guest lecturer at leading universities (Graduate Program in Neuroscience—USP; Graduate Program in Neuropsychology—CDN UNIFESP), among others.

His most recent books are *The Healing of the Brain* (Novo Século) and *Frustration: How to Develop Skills to Face the Challenges of Personal and Professional Life* (Benvirá).

 

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