The Pleasures and Benefits of
Resting to recharge your mind
Images: Ekornes AS
People: Tomas Myklebust
Speaking at Ekornes Bua, Myklebust highlighted how both physical and mental rest are crucial for enhancing well-being and boosting productivity. Here he shares his thought-provoking insights, which shed light on why embracing rest is the key to thriving in modern life. And how in all this undoing, we might find ourselves made whole again.
What role does technology play in this?
“Technology that was designed to make life easier, has become a double-edged sword. We bombard our brains with information from the moment we wake up until we go to bed,” Myklebust observes. “The technology that was supposed to make our lives simpler now overstimulates us. Constant connectivity and stimulation can erode our ability to process emotions and manage stress. We’re so comfortable that we no longer take the time to feel bored, which makes us worse at handling our emotions,”Myklebust shared striking research that links technology use to declining IQ levels:
“In Scandinavia, the IQ curve has started to decline, and there’s a direct link between this trend and our reliance on technological tools.”
Can you elaborate on how being bored can help us embrace our emotions?
“Rediscovering the value of boredom could unlock untapped potential in our creativity and emotional well-being. Rather than viewing it as unpleasant we need to redefine it as transformative—it’s a superpower,” he declared. “When we’re bored, the parts of the brain responsible for creativity and problem-solving are activated.
Yet, in today’s distraction-filled world, many people struggle to embrace quiet moments.” Myklebust cited a fascinating study where participants chose to give themselves painful electric shocks rather than sit in silence: “This says a lot about how poor we’ve become at being alone with our thoughts.”
Is mental resilience something we can improve?
“The key to building mental strength, is very similar to how we build physical strength and lies in finding the right balance between activity and rest. Just as elite athletes need recovery to perform at their best, we all need to give our brains space to consolidate and process experiences. It’s in these breaks that we build mental focus and strength.”
Myklebust pointed to research on world-class violinists to illustrate his point:
“Those who performed the best didn’t necessarily practice for more hours but were better at balancing intensive training with proper rest.”
As his lecture concluded, Myklebust left the audience with a powerful takeaway: “We live in a society that never stops. But it’s up to us to find strength in stillness and make rest a part of our everyday lives. When we prioritise rest, we don’t just become stronger—we become better versions of ourselves.”
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