The modern perception that equates inactivity with laziness or lack of productivity is increasingly at odds with emerging scientific findings, which suggest that the ability to pause — quite literally — is essential not only for mental health but also for complex cognitive functions. In a world where we are accustomed to constant movement — thinking, reacting, consuming, getting things done — a new trend is gaining traction that proposes the exact opposite: to stop. Not to take deep breaths, not to engage in guided meditation, not to “work on ourselves.” Simply to stand still for a few minutes, without purpose and without distractions.
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Without practicing breathing, without guided meditation. Just stand
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Surprisingly, this simple act, which requires no time, knowledge or effort, is beginning to be seen as one of the most effective ways to calm the nervous system. In Israel, perhaps more than elsewhere, it is difficult to stop. The pace is fast, alertness is constant, and there is a sense that one must always stay on edge. Precisely for this reason, a brief pause during the day — even just a minute — can become a meaningful tool, not as an escape from reality but as a way to remain within it without burning out.
What is 'standing still'?
The concept is very simple: stand in place (at home, at work or outside), without a phone, without music, without trying to “force” relaxation. The goal is to do nothing — and not to try to achieve any result. That is precisely what distinguishes it from meditation: there is no “task,” no instructions and no sense of failure if you don’t succeed.
The idea of standing still as part of progress is not new and is rooted in ancient traditions. In Jewish tradition, for example, the Israelites in the desert journeyed only when the cloud lifted — and at times remained stationary for days. On the surface, there was no movement, no progress. But in practice, the pause itself was part of the journey. Standing still did not signify stagnation but rather a necessary stage along the way. As in the desert, so in life: not every pause is a retreat. Sometimes it is precisely the condition for moving forward.
Similarly, in Eastern traditions, Zhan Zhuang (“standing like a tree”) is considered a foundational practice in energy training. The principle is that a high level of internal movement (blood and oxygen flow) occurs from complete external stillness. The ability to stand without movement teaches a person to find “strength within calm,” a concept highly relevant to life under pressure.
Why does it work?
Traditional neuroscience tended to focus on brain activity during the performance of cognitive tasks. However, over the past decade, there has been a significant shift with the discovery of the “Default Mode Network.” This network becomes active specifically when a person is not focused on any external task, but is in a state of wakeful rest, daydreaming or wandering thoughts. Its activation does not indicate that the brain is “switched off,” but rather that it has shifted into internal processing.
Studies suggest this network is essential for emotional processing, integrating information and forming a sense of self. When a person stands still without movement or external stimuli, as in the practice of “quiet standing,” the brain shifts into what is known as “offline processing.” In this state, cognitive load decreases and stress is reduced, allowing deeper systems to process information accumulated throughout the day.
One of the more intriguing findings in recent years is that during quiet rest — such as sitting or standing without stimuli, especially immediately after learning — the brain reactivates the same neurons that encoded new information. This process, known as reactivation, helps consolidate memory and transfer it into long-term storage.
So why is it so difficult?
Complete stillness is not natural for us, which is why it is challenging. When we stand without doing anything, the brain tends to “fill the void” — generating noise, surfacing thoughts and sometimes even discomfort. This is because we have become accustomed to living in a stimulus-saturated environment, where our attention is almost constantly engaged.
When that stimulation disappears, the act of stopping itself feels unfamiliar and even unpleasant. Yet this very discomfort is evidence that the brain is not used to true rest — and may be exactly what we are missing.
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We've gotten used to living in an environment full of stimuli, and suddenly just standing still is hard
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How do you do it?
To implement the idea, no major change or preparation is required. It is enough to pause for a few minutes a day — between two and five minutes — and stand or sit quietly, without a phone and without distractions.
There is no need to try to relax intentionally or to “succeed” at the practice. The goal is simply to be. It can be done by a window, in the middle of a workday or before going to sleep — at any moment when a short break is possible.
The main advantage lies in its simplicity: even a single minute of genuine stillness can already have an effect and introduce a measure of calm into the system.
In a world that measures us by how much we do, it may be that the moments when we do nothing are the ones that restore our sense of quiet. As findings on the Default Mode Network and memory consolidation suggest, it is precisely in those moments when it seems we are doing nothing that the brain is performing its most important work.
Dr. Yael Benvenisti is a healthy lifestyle researcher and a doctor of gerontology