Bill Gates' habit that improves your mind, according to a neuroscientist

For decades, we've been led to believe that being alone is synonymous with weakness, isolation, or even sadness. But for people like Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, and Nikola Tesla, solitude was not only welcome, but essential. Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli , author of The Brain at Rest , claims that taking time for silence and disconnection can be one of the most effective practices for boosting cognitive function.

Jebelli explains that the mind doesn't shut down when we do nothing : in fact, a special brain network called the default mode network is activated, which is key to creativity, learning, and emotional insight.

Since the 1990s, Bill Gates has held "think weeks," during which he retreats to a cabin without internet or company. It was during one of these retreats that he conceived the idea of launching Internet Explorer in 1995.

This habit isn't a whim: it's a mental regeneration strategy. Without external stimuli, Gates's mind can wander freely, reorganize ideas, create new neural connections , and conceive original solutions. And you can do the same, even if you only have 10 minutes a day.

When you're not focused on a specific task—whether answering emails, browsing social media, or talking to someone—your brain goes into "internal mode." In this state, the mind works in the background: remembering, reorganizing, projecting, and learning.

Journaling, walking without music, gardening, painting, or simply gazing out the window without distractions are all ways to activate this mode. These activities, according to Jebelli, strengthen emotional intelligence , decision-making, and creativity.

You don't need a cabin by the sea. Just set aside a few minutes a day to be with yourself. Here are some simple ideas:

• Turn off your cell phone for 10 minutes and breathe deeply.
• Walk in silence, without headphones.
• Write in a notebook what you feel or think.
• Take time to observe your surroundings without doing anything.

It may feel uncomfortable at first, but with practice, these spaces become addictive… and very beneficial.

Jebelli also warns about the quality of social time. Being surrounded by people doesn't always mean well-being. In fact, spending time with toxic people or with whom we don't have a real emotional connection can raise levels of cortisol , the stress hormone.

Cultivating solitude doesn't mean rejecting others, but rather choosing better when and with whom to spend time . Balance is the key.

In an age where everything is measured by results, spending time doing nothing may seem unproductive. But it's quite the opposite. True growth occurs when the brain has room to breathe.

People like Bill Gates know this. And you too can practice this habit starting today.