Therapist Tips To Manage Anxiety by Hitting Mung

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3 reasons to get in on the South Korean trend from a therapist in Frisco TX

Why, as a therapist, I’m excited about this trend:

As a therapist in Frisco, Tx, I like to keep my eye out on ways to manage our anxiety, reduce depression, quiet our minds, calm our bodies, and find peace. So, when I learned about the trend of ‘spacing out’ or ‘hitting mung’ in South Korea, I was intrigued.

According to the Washington Post, “In stressed-out South Korea, people are paying to stare at clouds and trees.”

A contributor to the article describes the same ritual in South Korea that I, as a therapist in Frisco Tx, see many in our local community struggle with: Working all day, going home, doing housework, barely having an hour to decompress before sleep. Those few minutes to an hour are spent scrolling on phones or watching television. The contributor adds that one benefit of the trend is having a dedicated space to take a break.

As a therapist who works primarily with anxiety-fueled, hard-working, and high-achieving young professionals experiencing burnout, I believe this trend couldn’t come at a better time.

We are often dedicated to our relationships, jobs, and communities but rarely leave enough time for ourselves. When we don’t dedicate time to be fully in the present, we can find ourselves spread too thin, and we can experience burnout. 

Reason 1: Stave Off Burnout

Instead of dedicated time for meditating, being present, or spacing out, we often end up numbing out with our phones, tv, substances, or anything to get us out of our heads. 

What therapists often see in these numbing behaviors are ineffective and sometimes problematic attempts to self-regulate our nervous systems. 

I mean, it makes sense. You work hard all day. You find yourself doing everything for everyone else: employers, partners, spouses, kids, even your community. But are you dedicating enough time for yourself?

Crashing on the sofa binging on Netflix after being completely drained from your workweek is not the dedicated-to-yourself time that constitutes self-care. When I think of dedicated space-out time, I’m talking time in your day where you still have energy, brain power, and emotional bandwidth. 

If you’re in therapy for anxiety or depression, your therapist may regularly tout the benefits of self-care. Not only does self-care stave off burnout fueled by anxiety, it improves mental health. Self-care can provide a respite for a chaotic work or home environment and rejuvenation for depleted energy reserves.

Reason 2: Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Spacing out, much like mindfulness or grounding, may support nervous system regulation, which can help us develop the capacity to be more calm and aware in stressful situations. This type of awareness or presence helps us reduce the anxiety we feel. In turn, reduced stress may help improve our relationships by preparing us to be more present and patient with others.

Stepping out of productivity mode and allowing time to space out can have numerous benefits for the psyche.

Here’s how:

Spacing out involves being present in the moment. When we are fully present in the moment, we can step outside of the worry, chatter, and rumination in our minds and into peace of mind achieved by presence. To be present, we’re not worrying about the future or thinking about the past, which contribute to anxiety and depression. We feel safe and sound. We feel ok in the present. 

This is especially important for individuals who feel themselves burning out from anxiety and constant pressure to be productive every waking hour. 

Most of my clients are hard-working millennials working non-stop to pay off student loans, save for homes, and cover substantial insurance premiums. They are often filled with anxiety and trying their best to achieve some semblance of balance, which rarely leaves them time to enjoy the present moment. 

Reason 3: Change Your Lifestyle.

Paradoxically, I can see where a trend like this could feed into the inaccurate stereotype of millennials being lazy rather than point out how difficult it is to reclaim some of their own time. That is hard to accomplish when millennials often feel the need to be constantly productive. As a group, millennials are far from lazy.

I would argue millennials need extra support and encouragement to gain some time and space for themselves for the sake of their mental health. Even if you’re seeing a therapist, it’s important to take time outside of therapy for your mind to rest and recoup. It’s validating to take time for yourself when you see others doing it.   

To that point, perhaps people may be more inclined to seek out a place to space out among others so as to feel validated and not judged for their decision to step away from constant productivity and take time for themselves. 

It’s so natural for humans to compare ourselves to one another. If we’re in an environment of overworking and toxic productivity standards, we tend to fall in line. If, however, we see our peers stepping away from that, we may feel empowered and encouraged to change our lifestyle as well.

Why is a Therapist in Frisco, Tx promoting this South Korean Trend?

I ask many of my clients to create some white space on their calendars for a few moments each week. Many individuals, even young people, can find it difficult to be by themselves or to allow themselves time with their own thoughts. 

But doing so can help with stress, anxiety, and burnout. 

Taking time for yourself to space out, practice mindfulness, or engage in self-care may not feel productive, but it’s absolutely necessary in our stressful, modern worlds.

By taking time for ourselves, we can show up in our lives in a healthier way. The benefits of that extend to our work, our relationships, and our communities. We’re better for it, and those around us are better for it.