In 2022, Oxford University Press, the publisher of the most famous English dictionary, chose the phrase “Goblin Mode” as the selected phrase of the year during a public survey with the participation of more than 300,000 people. If we want to translate the phrase “goblin mode” into Persian word for word, the result will be “goblin mode,” which does not reveal the hidden meanings behind this common word. In this article, we want to analyze goblin mode and euphoric pleasure-seeking and explain why it positively affects mental health.
What is Goblin Mod?
In the Oxford dictionary, “goblin mode” is defined as:
This phrase describes a special mood in which a self-righteous person frees himself from the shackles of social norms and expectations and without any feeling of remorse or shame, sinks into slouching, laziness and self-indulgence.
According to this definition, using other equivalents for this new term might be better than “goblin mode.” For example, perhaps “relaxation,” “comfort,” or, in an idiomatic expression, “indulging in carelessness” better reveal the meaning and concept of Goblin Mode for the Persian-speaking audience.
In other words, goblin mode or relaxation can be seen as freeing yourself from the shackles of behavioral norms, just like going to the kitchen in the middle of the night and taking out the leftover ice cream that has been left in the corner of the freezer for a long time and greedily eating it all, or going to the supermarket in your pajamas and doing your shopping without worrying about the judgment of others. This is the instant and momentary satisfaction that a person looks for with ease and is ready to eat a handful of junk food for lunch instead of a healthy meal and not have any regrets.
Some examples of the behavior of a relaxed person
- He drinks the water from the bottle without hesitation and does not go to the glass.
- He wears pajamas all day long and doesn’t rush to get ready.
- He avoids going to the bathroom and showering and wears the same clothes for several days.
- He makes a daily habit of making his bed, throwing clean clothes on the floor, and stacking pizza boxes on the dining room table.
- He watches his favorite TV show for hours on end.
- Instead of face-to-face work, he engages in remote work and does not like sitting at a desk and uses his bed instead of a desk.
Does goblin mode cure us?
What is the release of relaxing and letting go of personal and social responsibilities for people? Although Goblin Mod was first used in the social network Twitter in 2009, it became a buzzword amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In those days, many people stayed at home due to strict quarantines, and to cope with those particular conditions, they gradually restricted adherence to conventional behavioral norms and tried to care more about their comfort and personal desires.
Dr. Sullivan, an expert in the field of psychology and behavioral studies, says:
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we have gradually learned how to cope, how to rest, recover, and renew our mental strength. In the meantime, Goblin Mode was able to strengthen our self-care in a completely innovative and non-traditional way.
Therefore, it can be claimed that relaxation has advantages for people’s mental health, and it can be considered a natural reaction to tensions, conflicts, and even mental injuries. When we experience mental stress or find ourselves caught amid threats, our sympathetic nervous system starts to work, and by activating several biological processes, it gives the fight or flight command so that the person escapes from danger with more energy. When the threats are removed, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated and slowly returns the mind and body to the original state.
Dr. Sullivan explains the relationship between relaxation and the parasympathetic nervous system as follows:
With the help of relaxation, we can turn off our sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. So Goblin Mode or Relaxation helps us to rest and refresh and get back to the normal flow of life.
Relaxation can be divided into several stages, each of which will be explained below.
1. Restoring mental state
Unpleasant moments like these whole bad days. So, to make good days, you must spend pleasant moments, and to achieve this goal, it is better to free yourself from the shackles of negative thoughts.
Dr. Sullivan says:
If we find ourselves falling down a magical rabbit hole and constantly ruminating over the unpleasant events of the past days, weeks, and months, we need to stand our ground and then take a step back. We need to know what we are going to do with the rest of our moments, hours or days and how to get rid of disturbing thoughts.
Therapeutic activities are the way to do this. These activities require self-love; You should be kind to yourself and don’t readily accept hurtful situations. Maybe leaving the house, walking in nature, or visiting your favorite store will prevent you from falling into the trap of tension.
Remember that you shouldn’t feel guilty and ashamed of doing seemingly unproductive activities at this stage.
2. Recovery of strength
You cannot call your friend when the phone is switched off. When your battery is dead, you need to find a way to recharge yourself and restore your power. If an evening nap or going to bed early makes you feel better, don’t give up on his chest. Be aware that job burnout may seriously knock you down and endanger your physical and mental health.
Sleep heals your mind and body and clears your mind of useless thoughts. Of course, sleep is not the only method of recovery. Friends or family gatherings may also restore your lost energy.
3. Strengthening the sense of vitality and freshness
Take a moment and think about what makes you happy. Eating saffron ice cream? Embracing a romantic partner? Reading your favorite book? Which of them light the sparks of vitality in you?
” During the recovery phase, feeling in control of your body is important,” says Dr. Sullivan. However, at the stage of strengthening the sense of vitality, you must choose how you want to flow the blood of freshness in the veins of your life.
If you don’t know where to start, take a pen and write down your feelings and whatever may make you happy or sad; Then you can choose.
Sullivan says:
Enhancing your sense of vitality is closely related to your purpose and understanding of the meaning of life and makes your mind, conscience and soul young and lively.
4. Re-strengthening bonds and emotional relationships
When you want to break free from the clutches of unpleasant thoughts, you need to find a way to reconnect with yourself and others who are influential and inspiring. “When we look at existing methods for dealing with burnout or ways to treat mood disorders, from depression to anxiety, we see that strengthening emotional bonds is the highest priority,” says Dr. Sullivan.
Some want to rebuild their bond with their faith; others may wish to visit their old friends and have a new meeting with them after a long time. Some others seek to restore their connection with invisible phenomena, such as starting a new adventure, traveling, or even talking to their inner child.
Dr. Sullivan says:
When we listen to our inner child, we don’t take ourselves or the world around us seriously, and through this way we can taste the joy and innocence and see the traces of miracles where we don’t expect it.
In this goblin mode or relaxation stage, you can easily avoid cleaning your room, sit madly at computer games, go to an escape room with your friends, or hit the heart of a foggy forest and walk without fear of getting lost in the depths of the woods. All these things free you from negative thoughts and strengthen your emotional bonds with your loved ones.
final word
When you get caught up in stressful events, you can get rid of stress to a certain extent with relaxation or goblin mode and restore your strength to return to the normal flow of life. Remember that maintaining mental and physical health comes first in life, and you should not put your health at risk by giving too much importance to busyness.
Warning! This article is only for educational purposes; to use it, it is necessary to consult a doctor or specialist.
