Think About It
Put somebody in a room and leave them alone. The room might have pictures, puzzles, or what have you, but it is deprived of any human contact. Even the written word is stripped from the room. Any stimulus such as a TV, telephone and so forth are non-existent in this room. Pretty soon the person will have feelings of boredom and loneliness. Even if you add exercise equipment, the persons body will grow weary and their brain will desire more.
Try it yourself. See how long you can sit and do nothing. Try even walking around, try being alone with no stimulation for your brain from other sources. Some people experience this stress when working alone in positions that require them to be someplace but their employer does not allow them to bring, or indulge in, distractions. The retail worker who is on by themselves when business is slow and the store is tidy is often not allowed distractions. Rather some bosses would insist they keep themselves busy, dusting or sweeping the same spot, doing useless tasks. To see the employee reading a magazine (even when the store is in excellent shape and tidy) would be an abomination!
Other employers, with multiple employees, might again insist their staff keep busy and offer them no excuse for visiting and socializing even if all work is done.
People who live alone, without friends or family, or even a pet, may soon show signs of mental illness, even if none were present before.
Image via Wikipedia
Now go back to your world of sitting in a room with nothing to stimulate your mind… how long did you last?
Even adding a radio, a television, or a book, is a huge plus to our brains. Adding stimulation that interacts with us is even better. This does not have to be another person in the room. It can be a pet, such as a cat. It can be a telephone, or a computer (chatroom or forum).
Our brains need stimulation that is not provided by walking around, by dusting, or other such things. While some people might be able to tolerate the mental isolation longer than others, many will hunger for mental stimulation ahead of physical stimulation.
It is far easier (for most people) to sit and talk to somebody than it is to sit and stare at the same spot on the wall.
Humans are social species. While we might enjoy some time to ourselves every so often, over all we need contact. Employers, parents, teachers, doctors, all of us need to be aware that we need mental activity, not just physical activity.
Other Reading
Shifting Focus on the Job: How to Deal with Boredom
Fun Ways to Increase your Intelligence
Filed under: Fitness
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