When summer approaches, we feel our brain that shoots the rope. A sentence often comes back in a loop in conversations: “I need to disconnect“. But is it just a temporary desire or a deep biological need? According to the neuropsychologist Francis Eustache, our brain actually needed a real moment of break to regenerate. And good news: no need to go for three weeks to the Maldives to feel the effects.
The brain at rest: active … but otherwise
Contrary to popular belief, our brain never really stops. Even when they are asked for nothing, he turns at full speed (or almost). About 20 % of total body energy is still mobilized during these “rest” phases. This particular operation is based on a network of connections called “network of default mode”.
It is this mode that activates when you let your thoughts wander, that you think back to memories or imagine scenarios, sometimes eccentric. “”It is the place of introspection, creativity, anticipation“Explains Francis Eustache. This network is also connected to our” episodic memory “, which makes it a centerpiece of our mental health.
In this context, slowing down does not mean becoming inactive, but leaving our brain time to sort, rebuild, imagine. A sorting that our frantic rhythms often make it impossible.
Why our brain demands a real break
The days follow each other and look alike: repeated notifications, fragmented work, fragmented attention. Result: overwork. “”The brain is not an inexhaustible machine“, Recalls the researcher. Without break time, he runs out of steam, struggles to hold the information, and sees his creativity falling.
In summer, the entire organization invites slowdown. And these money moments are not anecdotal. According to neuroscience, they are essential for memory, concentration and adaptability. You still have to know how to really stop.
What to forget: two misconceptions with a magnifying glass
Some myths have a hard life. Here are two current affirmations that science beats in breach:
- Digital disconnection is a superfluous luxury: false. The human brain is not designed to manage a constant flow of information. Hyperconnection increases stress and harms sleep. A digital detox, even brief, restores attention and protects memory in the long term.
- It takes long vacation to regenerate: still false. Even short breaks, well thought out, can do miracles. The “micro-repos” method, which consists in cutting off from any solicitation for a few minutes several times a day, clearly improves cognitive performance.
4 simple tips to offer a real break to your brain
The objective is not perfection, but attention. Here are four concrete levers to activate this summer:
- Stimulate your senses: Physical, nature, gardening, painting, this experiences anchored in the body help reset our tired cerebral circuits;
- Dare creative boredom: A vacuum moment can unlock new ideas. Let your mind wander without a goal;
- Cut notifications : they act as permanent interruptions that eat attention. Put them on a break, if only an hour;
- Be indulgent with yourself : a partial disconnection, even imperfect, is already beneficial. No need to reach the Buddhist monk level.