In a world running on “fifth gear,” people have become permanent workers — always available, replying to emails at night, answering messages during meals, switching between screens without noticing. Within this accelerated life, an ancient idea thousands of years old — one that at first glance seems religious, limiting or restrictive — is suddenly gaining new, almost scientific meaning. This is the idea of Shabbat. Not necessarily as a halachic Sabbath, but as a weekly framework of pause, disconnection from the rat race, and deep rest — a neurological reset in every sense.
Between stopping and deep rest
Modern psychology and neuroscience are clear: our brains are not built to function continuously. The part of the nervous system responsible for stress responses needs rest to avoid burnout. Without real breaks, we remain in prolonged arousal that harms physical and mental health. By contrast, when the body receives a steady signal to stop — such as through Shabbat — it can shift into a mode where it heals itself, strengthens the immune system, improves sleep quality and regulates emotions.
A study published in August 2025 in BMC Public Health found that people who observe regular weekly rest — whether through religion or personal choice — sleep better, feel less fatigued during the week and report overall improvements in mental well-being. Rest, then, is not a luxury but a physiological necessity.
Time not measured by productivity
Unlike every other day of the week, when the question “What did you do today?” comes almost automatically, Shabbat invites us not to do. It creates a space detached from utility, competition and achievement. For many, it is within this unproductive time that emotional depth, reflection and renewal occur. It is the time when we return to ourselves, draw closer to family or simply relearn how to breathe.
Connection — not only body, but soul
Shabbat also offers something more: meaning. It is not just a break to “recharge,” but an experience of belonging — time that is mine, not seized by schedules, tasks or an endless digital world. Research in positive psychology shows that a sense of meaning — whether derived from tradition, a small ritual or time set aside for connection — contributes to health no less than diet or exercise. Shabbat, then, is not only a reset for the nervous system but also for our values.
You don't have to be religious to benefit
The larger message is that Shabbat’s benefits are not reserved for the observant. On the contrary, many who are not religious at all choose to adopt Shabbat principles in a broader sense: turning off their phones, not working, setting aside the to-do lists. They devote time to quiet activities — reading, walking or family conversations. Even beginning a meal with the lighting of a candle or a song can mark the start of intentional rest.
Secular frameworks worldwide have adopted similar models under new names such as “24 hours unplugged” or “intentional timeout.” Many embrace it because they see a clear link between defined weekly breaks and lower anxiety levels, stronger sense of control and overall well-being — even without any religious practice.
In conclusion, rest is not weakness, it is strength
In a world that demands constant acceleration, improvement and achievement, Shabbat offers the opposite: to stop, let go and breathe. It may sound simple, even naïve, but both scientific research and the lived experiences of thousands who adopt Shabbat in one form or another point to the same conclusion: Shabbat is a profound restorative space, physically and emotionally, that allows us — if only for a moment — to be whole.
The writer is a gerontologist and healthy lifestyle researcher