Help for Uncertainty - The Art of Deep Hanging Out
In the article Time To Do More Nothing, professor Margaret Heffernan argues that "deep hanging out"—spending unstructured time without an agenda—is a vital skill for the future.
The "Deep Hanging Out" Guide for Families
The Concept: Take a break from over-scheduling. The article suggests that "wandering" and "picking up the vibe" in unplanned moments helps us collect the kind of real-world information that screens and schedules miss.
The Skill: The World Economic Forum says creative thinking is now a must-have job skill. By letting kids "do nothing," you aren't being lazy—you’re helping them build the creative muscles they need to succeed.
The Digital Break: To think deeply, we must unplug. Stepping away from digital distractions creates "minds on fire" moments where the best family conversations happen.
A Helpful Tool for Uncertainty: "The Story over the Statistic"
The article highlights a specific tool used by the Bank of England’s former Chief Economist to handle uncertainty: Listen to the story, not just the data.
How to use it at home: Instead of looking at "data" (grades, chore charts, or minutes practiced), focus on the stories your kids tell when they are just "hanging out."
Why it works: In an unpredictable world, statistics only tell you what happened. Stories and unscripted conversations give you the intuition to navigate what might happen next.
The Bottom Line: Don’t feel guilty about a lazy afternoon. As the article says, "doing nothing" is the "rigorous work of inventing the future."
Have a lovely weekend!
Warm regards,
Valerie DeGraw
School Counsellor
Comments
Post a Comment