Andrea Borsvold: This new brainstacking trend is right up my alley

Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

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The latest “trend,” if you will, is a digital detox known as brainstacking. Similar to an analog basket, digital natives (millennials and Gen Zers, primarily) are pulling away from their screens and prioritizing their mental health, focus and attention by intentionally putting away their phones, shutting off the TV and entertaining themselves with brain-engaging activities that keep their hands busy.

Screen time and constant device stimulation has contributed to a mental health crisis and physical health decline of entire generations in America, and we are finally saying “enough is enough.” Some people are reclaiming their sleep, combating digital burnout and escaping avoidance cycles by any means possible. There are apps to lock your phone from distracting scrolling, “bricks” to lock your whole phone from overuse, and support groups to encourage habits to break you of your phone habits.

Analog baskets were the first viral hack to suggest physical distractions, though those were perhaps more widely accepted by stay-at-home moms and home-schoolings mom who already had a morning basket set up for their kids. (And the irony is not lost on me that these trends to get us off social media are first found on social media, but I digress.) These baskets including handiworks, physical books, playing cards and photo albums — low-energy, screen-free activities to keep you busy until the urge to scroll was gone.

Brainstacking is simply for a wider audience — those who read, write and like the visual of a neat stack of books. The idea is to take anywhere from 45 minutes to up to two hours to work through a physical pile of items that exercise your brain, stretch your imagination and get you our of your digital funk. And this practice could be daily, starting your day off right, or weekly, to help you plan and put life into perspective.

You start by putting your phone in another room or switching it to “Do Not Disturb” mode. Grab all of your favorite pens and markers, as well as your favorite drink — make it an occasion. Warm up with a quick puzzle or word game. Some people brain dump in a notebook to clear their mind and sort it all out later.

Next, you can journal and reflect on a book you’ve been reading, do your morning devotions, or complete a creative writing prompt to get your creativity flowing. A small craft, hands-on puzzle, or an engaging coloring book can keep the creativity going. You can close with a gratitude journal or write out your to do list for the week, taking a quiet moment before stepping into the rest of the day.

Now, I love some good office supplies and have secretly been collecting some of my favorite notebooks and journals over the years, so this brainstacking practice is right up my alley. If you need a break from your phone like I do, maybe you can create your own stack and see what you can discover.

Andrea Borsvold is a busy homesteading mama of three who loves God, coffee, sewing and the beauty of nature living in northwestern Minnesota. She writes regular columns for the Grand Forks Herald.

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• Andrea Borsvold

Andrea Borsvold is a busy homesteading mama of three who loves God, coffee, sewing and the beauty of nature living in northwestern Minnesota. She writes regular columns for the Grand Forks Herald.

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