Sweet doing nothing and well-being: because stopping is good for your health (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Absence of stimuli reduces stress and heart rate
• WSL highlights the role of trees, water and birdsong
• Stopping favours cell maintenance processes
• Breaks are essential to alternate activation and rest

Key facts

• What: Beneficial effects of dessert do nothing and rest
• When: Holiday or leisure time
• Where: Switzerland, in urban and natural contexts
• Who: WSL researchers and scientific bodies
• Amount: 3%, 2%, 80% reference percentages cited in related searches

Meeting new people, visiting postcard places and launching into original activities to photograph and share with friends on their social channels: even during our free time on holiday we seem to have an irrepressible need for programs. It will be our productivity-oriented society, it will be our inability to give ourselves a break in a world that always needs us connected, but stopping, for real, seems to have become a luxury for a few. Yet, indulging in moments of authentic inactivity to spend with oneself, without smartphones, music or other forms of entertainment, does not mean wasting time, on the contrary. When we do absolutely nothing, we are taking care of our body and mind. Modern society imposes tight rhythms that often leave no room for reflection or the simple recovery of psychophysical energies. Free time comes

Operational details

The analysis of the relationship between the urban environment and psychophysical recovery offers insights of great interest to those who live in Swiss urban centres, where traffic noise and daily hustle and bustle represent a constant source of acoustic and visual stress. Research from the WSL has shown that trees, water and birdsong can compensate for traffic noise, ensuring a good recovery from stress. Within this framework of studies, the 3% and 2% and 80% percentages emerge as reference parameters related to environmental analyses and the measurement of acoustic and natural impacts on the population residing in metropolitan and peripheral areas. Swiss cities, while offering a high quality of life and state-of-the-art infrastructure, require careful planning of green spaces to guarantee citizens or people active on the territory immediate access to regenerating natural contexts. The presence of urban parks, accessible waterways and peri-urban wooded areas is not only an aesthetic or ornamental element, but constitutes a real preventive health infrastructure capable of lowering cortisol levels and improving public health at the cantonal and national levels. For those who work in Switzerland, taking advantage of lunch breaks to immerse yourself in a green area or enjoy brief moments of silence outdoors allows you to break the tension accumulated in front of the screen or in office meetings.

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Key points

The practical translation of these principles into everyday life involves adopting sustainable habits and being aware of the resources available in the Swiss territory for managing time and well-being. When planning holidays or organizing workdays, it is advisable to include scheduled downtime that does not involve frantic tourist travel or packed social calendars. A truly rejuvenating vacation leaves room for the unexpected and for silence, allowing the body to complete those parasympathetic recovery cycles described previously. To delve deeper into time management and evaluate the impact of work rhythms on your economic and personal balance, you can consult the online analysis and guidance tools, which are useful for better planning your professional and personal choices in Switzerland. Carefully assessing your working conditions and responsibilities helps prevent burnout phenomena and maintain a high quality of life, in line with the standards recognized in the country. For further insights on economic themes, the cost of living, and professional opportunities in the Swiss national context, we invite you to regularly use our support tools and check the resources dedicated to career and leisure planning, by directly accessing the specialized sections of our portal through the dedicated links cost of living or exploring professional opportunities on the job postings page. Caring for your psychophysical well-being represents the fundamental pillar to support any path of personal and economic growth, transforming rest from a simple occasional break into a true sustainable life strategy.

Source: rsi.ch