“What are you thinking?” 

Seven out of ten times when someone asks me this question, I answer, “Nothing.” Then, people look at me with looks of suspicion, as if I am hiding some secret thoughts. But I told them the truth. I was thinking of absolutely nothing. In this article, I’d like to discuss the importance of spacing out in our daily lives.

I don’t mean to brag, but staring at random objects and spacing them out is one of my greatest talents. I am capable of reading a book on the train and then losing consciousness, which leads me to a station I have no clue about (this is why I don’t read on trains...). I sound incredibly dumb right now describing how I basically lose consciousness all of a sudden. However, I am genuinely proud of being able to zone out anytime I want. If you also want to practice spacing out like me, good for you! Here’s why.

Being IB students and IB teachers, we are constantly bombarded with assignment deadlines, homework, and responsibilities outside of school. Then, we get anxious, scared, and stressed, and our brain is filled up with all kinds of negative thoughts. Personally, when I am extremely neurotic, spacing out helps me to escape reality for a while. When I am ready, I put all my deadlines, complaints, and future concerns aside and focus on thinking nothing at all. At that moment, it feels as if someone is emptying the 100L trash bin in my head. After I’m back, I feel refreshed, like I woke up from a pleasant afternoon nap, and I am able to concentrate on the here and now.

Of course, this is hard to do at times, as we don’t have much control over what we think. It takes constant practice. I think leaving some time for spacing out during the day helps the mind to be more clear. That is why I practice spacing out on a daily basis.

Also, did you know there’s a competition for this? Spacing-Out Competition is an annual competition in South Korea where people sit in the park, unfocus their eyes, and space out. When the staff comes to throw you off with a silly costume, you must not be distracted. The one who can maintain the most stable heart rate throughout the competition wins a prize. I will include attending this competition on my bucket list for sure.

What are your tips on clearing the mind?

Citations:
Frontier. “Space out Competition.” Frontier, 10 Nov. 2016, frontier.is/space-out-competition/.