Are you resting or just distracted? Free time & scrolling

Between meetings, deadlines, task lists and obligations, free time has become a rare thing. And when we finally find it, we often “waste” it without even realizing it. A scroll here, a reel there, five minutes of TikTok “to relax”… and suddenly an hour has passed. The paradox? You haven’t rested. And your mind is still “running”.

When scrolling feels like rest - but it's not

Your mobile phone is always with you. It's easy, immediate, "painless." But the constant flow of information, images, and stimuli keeps the brain alert, even when you think you're relaxing.

The result? The mind doesn't have time to unwind. Your productivity decreases, concentration becomes difficult, and you feel tired without having done anything "tiring."

Scrolling is not rest

There's nothing wrong with browsing your feed for a bit. The problem starts when the only way to relax is to scroll. When the body rests but the mind doesn't stop absorbing.

Rest doesn't just mean "doing nothing." It means doing something that fills you up, relieves you, gives you energy instead of taking it away.

Solutions for more quality free time

If you want to really relax, try to give your free time some… meaningful content:

– Turn off your phone for 30 minutes and go for a walk without podcasts or music – Read a few pages of a book that is not related to work – Write something spontaneously: a thought, a goal, an idea – Do something creative: cook, make something, paint — without the expectation of “producing” – Just sit. Observe. Don’t fill in every blank.

The difference is small, but the impact is big. The mind needs “empty space” to rest, process, and ultimately… be inspired.

You don't always need to "fill" your time.

Free time is not a luxury. It is a tool. And the way you manage it determines how “full” you feel in your daily life.

The next time you reach for your phone “for a moment,” ask yourself: Is this really relaxing me? Or is it just distracting me? Performance starts with relaxation. And relaxation starts with intention.