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Does it sound appealing to you to have a little time all to yourself?  Is some peace and quiet something you yearn for?

What if you were asked to sit still in a room by yourself for 6 to 15 minutes?  Could you make it without your smartphone, tablet, a book, something to doodle on or listen to?  As it turns out, this is really hard for most people.

In a study published in Science on hundreds of participants in a series of 11 experiments, over half the volunteers reported it as not enjoyable on a 9-point scale.  It was hard to concentrate and their minds wandered.  It was not fun at all.  In fact, one experiment showed that 67% of men and 25% of women chose to give themselves a mild electrical shock instead of being quiet doing nothing.  This was even after testing out the shock beforehand with most saying they would pay $5 instead of feeling the shock again.  Click on the image for more info.

Really?  A lot of folks would rather be shocked than have quiet time?  No wonder it’s so hard for people when waiting in line, stuck in traffic, or lying awake at night.  Is that why so many people avoid meditation even when knowing how beneficial it is?  Does it mean that people don’t value ‘think time’ or daydreaming?  Perhaps, so many people don’t like time for aimless thinking because they don’t know how to tame their mind or have forgotten how to be quiet or don’t value it.  What are your thoughts on this?

Unstructured ‘think time’ happens throughout the day, doesn’t it.  Is that why so many people grab their smartphone as soon as a free minute appears?  This even happens while driving.  Have you had the urge to check your texts, email or the weather at a stop light rather than look out the window or even listen to the music playing?  You’re not ‘alone.’  According to this study, half of us don’t like having quiet “thinking time.”

So now what?  I think it’s a good idea to learn how to get used to having free time again by learning some healthy mental habits.  This would take the stinging frustration out of waiting, for example.  It will even build up your brain power.

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.  I’m curious about what you have to say.

Here are some great ideas for when free time comes about accidentally or on purpose.

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