Topics: Gen Z, TikTok, Mental Health, Social Media, Life
Just when you thought you'd escaped the word 'rawdogging' - it's back.
Now, before you rush to any conclusions, it's not what you think. In case you missed it, Gen Z have somewhat reclaimed the term and it doesn't mean anything sexual.
The online craze, which emerged on TikTok in recent months, essentially means doing something with absolutely no distractions.
It can be applied to pretty much any scenario - we've had people 'rawdogging' public transport, AKA sitting in silence with no book or music for their plane or train journey, or even 'rawdogging' while eating - so not watching anything or scrolling on your phone while you tuck into your dinner.
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And now, the bizarre craze seems to be replacing the concept of meditation, as people have recently called it 'rawdogging boredom'. Yes, really.
Essentially, young people are putting aside a slot of time within their day to embrace boredom and sit just with their thoughts and no distractions, staring into space.
While it's not exactly the same as meditation, which requires a bit more effort, it's a similar concept.
One TikToker, who posts under the handle @productive.rowan, has been sharing a series of videos where he 'rawdogs' boredom for an hour each day to 'fix his attention span'.
The first of his daily clips showed him sitting in an armchair doing, you guessed it, absolutely nothing.
He penned in the caption: "Recently, I have been struggling with having a short attention span. Constant dopamine hits from my phone, caffeine, sugary foods and games.
"This gave me such hard time to focus on my work and the things I really care about. Then I came across a challenge for fixing your attention span. The premise for this challenge is for your brain to take a break and wander off freely without any stimulation."
The user added: "This is my first day of this challenge. I never tried this and it was challenging. Just sitting there doing nothing was a lot harder than I thought. I’m going to be doing this challenge for 30 days to show the difference."
The video has since amassed more than a million views, with other people inspired to also take on the task.
By day seven, he said he 'felt a lot more productive' and 'didn't need constant stimulation'.
The TikToker wrote: "I focus on the things that actually matter to me, like my work, relationships and being more present in the moment that matters instead of checking my phone every two seconds."
However, as some people are comparing the phenomenon to meditation, others have rushed to clarify that it's definitely not the same thing.
One Instagram user penned: "There is a big difference between being bored and meditation. Meditation is the act of stabilising your attention while 'rawdogging' sounds like drowning in your own thoughts and immediate experiences suffering along the way. It’s more of enduring than being in control."
Another agreed: "Honestly, rawdogging boredom is the best description for what it truly is."
Someone else wrote: "Every generation likes to pretend they invent new things. Their kids will call it something else."
