If you’ve spent any amount of time reading about mental health treatment—or just mental health in general—you’ve likely come across something called “hitting mung.”
If you have, you’re familiar with its potential superpower status. If you haven’t, you should keep reading—I bet you’ll be convinced by the end.
What’s Hitting Mung?
The pandemic led to Korean youth becoming even more isolated and under even more pressure since there weren’t enough jobs to go around. Too many Korean youths were sitting around at home feeling the squeeze of not being ‘good enough.’
More than that, this feeling of isolation is amplified due to the hyper-online nature of the world right now. All this led to the booming popularity of ‘hitting mung’.
Essentially, it’s the art of doing nothing, but not at home.
Why not at home? Because you need that separation to truly get into a state of relaxation and calm. At home, you might still be distracted by that laundry you need to fold, that book you need to read, or that email you ‘must’ answer right now.
South Koreans visit specific ‘hitting mung’ cafes that are close to nature or other soothing landscapes. They are not allowed to bring their phones, children, or pets. They also have to leave their shoes behind in a locker before entering the calm space.
In the space, individuals are given parchment, writing utensils, and tea. They can journal if they wish, but mostly they are allowed to ‘do nothing,’ something too many people don’t know how to do and could do with more of.
It’s About Giving Your Brain Time to Be
It might seem ludicrous to pay for something that you could technically do at home for free, but it’s a sign of the times that someone needs to forcibly take our phones and smart devices away and allow us to rest. Otherwise, people are so addicted to their smartphones that they even take them to the toilet with them.
This way your brain doesn’t get even a second of rest throughout the day, where it can just be, without thinking, reading, or pondering.
Studies have been done that show that brains need downtime so they can function more optimally. Not only does it increase productivity when you are back at work, but it can also solidify your memories and boost creativity.
Stress Management Requires More Relaxation and Less Screen Time
This trend might remind you of the ‘forest bathing’ or shinrin-yoku, which the Japanese practice. In this scenario, you go over to a forest or green area, and you let yourself bathe in the delightful chemicals that trees produce which are healing for humans.
But in the hitting mung trend, you don’t have to walk around, take deep breaths, or do anything at all. The point is to get to a state of blankness (which is what the Korean word Mung means).
The idea is to completely detach yourself from your daily routine, from your technology stack, and your pressing responsibilities at home and work. When you’re able to get away from it all and hit that ‘state of blankness’, your body and mind can recharge, rejuvenate, and recuperate themselves.
Some ‘hitting mung’ cafes even have short videos of fluffy clouds or a fireplace, that you could watch to get into that state of blankness. In this day and age where filling EVERY moment of your day with something has become a trend, it’s a relief to be able to do nothing for a little while.
Are There Any Hitting Mung Cafes in America?
Does this trend seem gimmicky to you? Well, lots of South Koreans swear by it. And in fact, there are lodges in America as well, where you can go to do a digital detox. You leave your phone, and other devices behind, and relax in nature without thinking of work or other responsibilities.
It seems similar to the hitting mung trend, doesn’t it?
The thing is that hitting mung hasn’t hit the mainstream yet. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do a similar digital detox by visiting a digital detox retreat center or hitting a Vipassana meditation retreat where you aren’t allowed to speak for 10 days.
You could even create a hitting mung space for yourself and your friends, by renting a cottage and putting all phones and smart devices away for the entire weekend. Or visiting these relaxing gardens in NYC.
All you are allowed to do is stare off into space, or the wooded area around. Or spend time chatting with each other, focused and undistracted conversation is such a lost art form nowadays.
Your Mental Wellness Deserves Some Hitting Mung Time
It’s time for all of us to realize that our brains and bodies aren’t robotic devices that can function 24/7 without rest or recuperation.
Even though it might seem like this is the way you are going to get ahead in the world, it’s not good for your mental health and it could even be detrimental to your productivity levels. There’s only so far you can keep taking your body and mind until they call for a timeout or burnout completely.
Hitting mung can be that timeout you need. Try out the trend by visiting a cafe in South Korea or creating your own at home.
Are you interested in traveling and in boosting your mental health? Check out my blog which chronicles my step away from OCD behaviors using the healing power of travel.