Combat Brain Rot with Desk Disco and Nature Therapy

Are you suffering from Brain Rot? UK sees breakout searches for ‘brain rot test’

• 2,000 hours of screentime PER YEAR for workers – that’s 166 hours a month.
• Could desk discos, nature therapy, and upside-down reading help us beat brain rot?
• The short-form video explosion sees us struggling with addictive TikTok.

According to Google Trends, searches for ‘brain rot test’ have skyrocketed in the UK. This surge reflects a growing concern over a condition described by the Newport Institute as a severe state of mental fogginess and cognitive decline caused by excessive screen engagement.

Bubblegumsearch.com has delivered light-hearted suggestions for preventing brain rot and finding new ways to generate productivity and creativity in your working life!  

Bubblegumsearch.com’s tips to combat brain rot include:

• Dance at Your Desk: Boost your mood with music and dance breaks.
• Silent Disco Yoga: Energise with standing yoga moves to your favourite tunes.
• Mindful Eating: Pay attention to the flavours and textures of your food.
• Connect with Nature: Turn your desk into a mini jungle with plants.
• Sensory Play: Use stress balls or aromatherapy to reduce stress.
• Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a creative break.
• Brain Challenges: Strengthen your mind with puzzles and brainteasers.

Matt Cayless, Founder of Bubblegumsearch.com, comments: 

“As the founder of a creative digital agency, I understand that our team spends a lot of time in front of screens, which can lead to mental fatigue. I am committed to promoting healthy work practices to create a work environment that minimises cognitive strain.”

What are the signs of brain rot? There are many, but to name a few:

• Increased anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion due to doom-scrolling
• Reduced attention span thanks to the short-form video explosion
• Feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of news

TikTok, in particular, is increasingly leading the brain rot phenomenon and has been named the number one most addictive social media platform. Are we hooked on its algorithm and pressured to keep up with viral content?

Individuals working in digital roles and spending most of their time at a desk are particularly at risk of experiencing brain rot. They could spend over 2,000 hours a year staring at a screen, more than 166 hours monthly. So why not try one of Bubblegumsearch.com’s suggestions to keep brain rot at bay?

1. Dance at your desk

Turn your desk at work into a disco to boost your mood. Play energetic music and have a dance break. Dancing can reset your mind and inspire creativity. Create a playlist that reflects your mood and lets your emotions out. Why not add a 360-degree disco light to your desk space to create the ideal dance space?

Silent disco yoga is something else to try. Put on your favourite tunes with headphones and practice some standing yoga moves. Use stretch to keep you energised. A standing desk could be a fantastic addition to your workspace to support you physically and give more variation to your moves!

2. Meditate (and eat mindfully)

It’s beneficial to combine physical activity with meditation and mindfulness. Take short, mindful breaks throughout the day and step away from your screen every 90 minutes. Other helpful practices include deep breathing, guided visualisation, a 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, and mindful eating at lunch. When eating, paying attention to your food’s flavours, textures, and smells gives you a much-needed break from the screen and an instant mental reset.

3. Connect with nature

Connect with nature. It’s as simple as taking outdoor breaks or turning your work desk into a mini jungle. Embrace the wildness of nature with a desk terrarium or tiny bonsai forest. Natural elements can help reduce stress and boost creativity. Taking short walks or caring for desk plants (Snake Plant, Pothos, or ZZ Plant are particularly desk-friendly) can be an easy way to take a break, refresh your mind, and increase productivity.

4. Play with your senses 

To create an environment that promotes focus and creativity and reduces stress, consider adding sensory elements such as aromatherapy with scents that transport you or tactile objects like stress balls, kinetic sand, or silicone pop-it toys in playful shapes. These sensory experiences, especially hands-on play, are therapeutic and can also help reduce our screen time.

5. Do the Pomodoro

Use the Pomodoro Technique for time management. The basic premise of this technique is to work for 25 minutes straight, then take a quick break. Use this time to be creative, like doodling random images that spring to mind. These short bursts of creativity help balance your work and give you fresh perspectives.

6. Challenge your mind 

Consider taking strategic breaks with brainteasers and puzzles to improve your problem-solving skills. Engaging in mental exercises can strengthen neural pathways, leading to thoughts you may not have considered. Just as using the Pomodoro technique for creative breaks can enhance cognitive ability, strategic breaks with brainteasers and puzzles can enhance cognitive ability. Why not try Kakuro (similar to a crossword but with numbers) or create your riddles to share with co-workers?

7. Think backwards – and upside down!

Try promoting creative thinking by doing activities like writing in reverse or reading upside down. These tasks challenge the mind and can help stimulate our brain pathways. It’s a great way to refresh the mind, especially if you feel stuck in a rut.

Credit: https://www.bubblegumsearch.com/