Fascinating piece in the Wall Street Journal about going to mock prison to get away from the stresses of life.
Ok, so you know your working too hard, when your only escape is to lock yourself up and throw away the key for a few days.
In South Korea, where they work 18% more than on average (2090 hours per year vs. 1765)--their is a great need to get away from it all.
There where life satisfaction rates a 4.3 out of 10, which is 34% lower than the average (of 6.6), putting yourself in prison is a quality of life thing.
A two-night stay in the makeshift prison for extreme relaxation costs $146--and there you can meditate to your hearts delight.
You can also attend "spiritual classes" and participate in "healing plays."
Normally smartphones wouldn't be allowed, but people freak out without them, so they get to check them once a day while on the inside.
Being locked behind bars is a punishment in most places, but here its time to think, reflect, and get back to yourself--most of all you don't have to go to work on those days.
It's funny, but one of the hardest things is generally for people just to stop and think--really stop and think--it's much easier to drown ourselves in endless activity and never have to deal with what's going on inside.
When we stop to let our thoughts catch up, to deal with our anxieties and fears, to confront ourselves and all the mistakes we make, and to let ourselves feel what can be an tidal wave of pent up feelings--that is a freedom that few can bear to make. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)