I’m a psychologist and this is why the bizarre act of ‘rawdogging’ flights, where all entertainment is ignored, actually has HUGE mental health benefits

‘Rawdogging’ is a flight where you are lost in thought during your journey, without any form of outside entertainment.

Recently, videos have gone viral of passengers filming themselves doing this.

TikTok user @westwashere boasted of completing flights of seven and nine hours, “just looking at the charts and the airspeed” – and Dalton Roe (@deathroe90) claimed that when he eats raw dogs, he doesn’t eat at all.

He captioned his video: ‘Just ran off a flight from Orlando to LA, no water, no snacks, no music or entertainment, seat all the way up. The power of the mind knows no bounds.’

Sound like a nightmare? Psychologists reveal that the practice actually has many benefits, from “sparking creativity” to “reducing anxiety.”

‘Rawdogging’ flights are flights where you record your own thoughts while flying. TikTok user @westwashere (left) boasted that he spent seven and nine hour flights ‘just looking at the charts and the airspeed’. Psychologists say the practice has major mental health benefits

Dr Sandi Mann, pictured, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, shared the benefits of ‘rawdogging’ flights with MailOnline

Dr Sandi Mann, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, is an expert in the science of boredom, wellbeing and emotions. She shared the benefits of ‘rawdogging’ flights with MailOnline, explaining: ‘The new craze for ‘rawdogging’ flights may seem like a humorous and slightly bizarre trend. However, there are some real mental health benefits to be had.

‘Giving ourselves time to step away from our phones and other stimuli allows our minds to wander, which can lead to new ideas and creativity.

‘When we have absolutely nothing to do or are not distracted by anything, we experience low stimulation levels.

‘The feeling of understimulation, or boredom as it is often called, can feel uncomfortable and something we try to avoid. So when we force ourselves to be in this state, our thoughts start to look inward.’

Benefits of Low Stimulation

The teacher continues, “Our brains can provide the neural stimulation that is missing from the external environment. The firing of networks and connections, the jumping from ideas to images to thoughts, becomes less conscious. We stop controlling where our brains go. This allows us to see things in new ways and tap into new ideas.

‘I once did an experiment at the University of Central Lancashire where I took people off the street and put them in a room with no stimulation at all, like music, phones or even anything to look at.

‘At first, participants found it an uncomfortable experience and wanted to do something, but eventually they relaxed and found it calming.

‘Taking time to let our minds wander allows us to daydream – both processes are catalysts for creativity. During this time, we come up with more creative ideas and different approaches to problem solving. It also provides us with much-needed downtime from the stresses of everyday life.’

Get the most out of flights

‘If we take the time to let our minds wander, we can daydream – [a] ‘catalyst for creativity,’ says Dr. Sandi Mann (file photo)

Sandi explains that air travel is a good time to try low-stimulus situations.

She notes: ‘A flight offers us the perfect opportunity to completely switch off from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Putting our phones on airplane mode means we no longer have to click through messages or notifications, so it’s a great excuse to put the screen away completely and focus on our thoughts.

“Although we may find it difficult at first to sit on a plane and do nothing, eventually we will begin to relax. It takes some patience, but it can be incredibly beneficial.”

The psychologist adds: ‘I would actually recommend that we all take some time out regularly to let our minds wander, rather than just waiting for our next flight.

‘Slowness and silence force us to experiment more, or try new ideas that we normally wouldn’t think of, and this leads to improved creativity. Hopefully this trend can inspire more of us to give it a try!’

Dr. Daniel Glazer, pictured, is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in trauma. He says rawdogging can lower anxiety levels

Less stress and anxiety

Dr. Daniel Glazer, a clinical psychologist with a special interest in trauma, adds that “deliberately practicing mindfulness exercises, where you are simply aware of the present moment, without distractions, has been clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels.”

He told MailOnline that rawdogging is ‘a kind of impromptu meditation session’.

He continues: ‘It’s certainly not for everyone, as for some the idea of ​​being trapped in their own head for hours on end is their worst nightmare. But this forced introspection could provide an opportunity to grapple with the thoughts, emotions and self-awareness that our minds tend to avoid or suppress when they’re flooded with distractions.

“Although it may be uncomfortable, decoupling from input may provide some psychological benefits similar to mindfulness exercises.”

Dr Sandi Mann, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, is the author of The Science of Boredom (Little Brown).

Dr. Daniel Glazer is the co-founder of several health technology platforms, including Therapy rooms in the UKthe fastest growing directory of treatment rooms, spas and therapist offices for rent.