{"id":23855,"date":"2026-08-11T02:04:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T08:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unk.com\/blog\/?p=23855"},"modified":"2026-08-11T02:04:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T08:04:50","slug":"how-being-lazy-may-stave-off-dementia-and-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unk.com\/blog\/how-being-lazy-may-stave-off-dementia-and-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"How Being ‘Lazy’ May Stave Off Dementia and Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b- Blaise Pascal<\/p>\n

I’m always saying to anyone who’ll listen that hypnosis isn’t<\/a> a therapy<\/a> any more than the cup that brings you water is that actual liquid refreshment.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis is, of course, simply a delivery system, which happens to be a powerful conduit for learning. As you’ll see, hypnosis can actually tap into two essential brain modes. In fact, hypnotherapy must<\/em> do that in order to be effective.<\/p>\n

Relaxed hypnosis (not the natural kind, in which problematic emotional trance states can occur) has benefits apart from the therapy it delivers.<\/p>\n

When we’re in that natural<\/a> and highly focused state we learn in a way which is powerful and fast, which is why it’s so useful as a tool in psychotherapy<\/a>. This part of the hypnotic experience is highly focused, particularly solution focused.<\/p>\n

But there’s another critical part of the experience \u2013 the part that is free-flowing and ‘daydreamy’. And this is also important, perhaps equally so. In this ‘idling’ state, consolidation of learning and recovery of brain stress occurs.<\/p>\n

These parts of the hypnotic experience reflect two fundamental aspects of brain function. And too much of one or the other causes us problems.<\/p>\n

When the capsule also contains ‘medicine’<\/h3>\n

As you’ll have gleaned, when it comes to hypnosis, the container as well as the content can be great for you and your clients.<\/p>\n

If relaxation hypnosis is the ‘capsule’ that contains the ‘medicine’, then the hypnotic capsule contains myriad and powerful benefits all of its own, regardless of the actual therapy it delivers.<\/p>\n

But what are these benefits? The good stuff you can expect from simply enjoying hypnotic trance?<\/p>\n

Your all-important ‘default network’ may stave off dementia<\/h3>\n

In a culture that celebrates productivity, busyness, and constant output, ‘doing nothing’ has become taboo.<\/p>\n

Moments of idleness are often framed as wasted time, something to minimize or eliminate altogether, even a source of shame.<\/p>\n

But neuroscience is beginning to tell a very different story. Far from being unproductive, periods of rest may play a critical role in maintaining brain health, supporting memory, and even reducing the risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.<\/p>\n

At the heart of this idea is a simple but powerful insight: the brain does not switch off when we stop working. Instead, it switches modes.<\/p>\n

You don’t switch off, you switch over.<\/p>\n

\r\n \t\t\t\r\n \t\t\tThe brain does not switch off when we stop working. Instead, it switches modes. You don't switch off, you switch over.\r\n \t\t\t<\/span>\r\n \t\t\tClick to Tweet<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/i>\r\n \t\t<\/div>\n

According to neuroscientist Dr Joseph Jebelli, who’s done extensive research in this area, it is possible to lower your chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases and depression by ‘doing nothing’.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

I don’t know about you, but I think I can commit to that particular health regime.<\/p>\n

But… doing nothing? Really?<\/p>\n

Doing nothing is doing something<\/h3>\n

Actually, resting and letting the brain just wander and daydream isn’t really just doing nothing, because your brain is doing some wonderful recuperative housekeeping during such times.<\/p>\n

It seems doing this is extremely healthy for and protective of the brain. And this has to do with your ‘networks’.<\/p>\n

Yes, you, and everyone, have ‘networks’. Bear with me.<\/p>\n\n

A whole new meaning of ‘networking’<\/h3>\n

The brain operates using two main networks. One is the ‘executive’ network (yes, it sounds like a meet-up for busy professionals). Your executive network is responsible for all your focused, task-oriented thinking:<\/p>\n