The Space Out Competition, where you simply do nothing to win

The winner: a Chilean psychological consultant

The art of doing nothing

In Italy, people often talk about "Dolce far niente," which translates to a blissful state of doing nothing that brings peace and well-being to those who experience it. This concept seems foreign to many other countries, like South Korea, where work rhythms are exhausting. In 2018, a limit of 52 working hours per week was set, and in 2023, a proposal to increase it to 69 hours was discarded.

The Space Out Competition

To address this high-stress culture, creativity and probably a lot of fatigue have given birth to a truly unique contest: the Space Out Competition. What is it all about? Let’s explain.

Rule number 1: Do absolutely nothing

The rules are simple: the goal is to do absolutely nothing. Organizers monitor the participants' heart rates, and the winner is the one with the most stable heart rate. And no, falling asleep is not allowed.

In the heart of Seoul

The latest competition was held on May 12, 2024, in downtown Seoul, where dozens of people of all ages gathered to compete.

Dozens of participants

Many showed up in their work clothes: there were doctors, dentists, lawyers, office workers, and many students. Almost all of them had their yoga mats.

Sitting and staring into space

Most participants sat in a meditative position, staring into space, unfazed by the occasional rain that accompanied the competition at times.

The winner: a Chilean psychological consultant

The competition was won by Valentina Vilches, a Chilean psychological consultant living in South Korea. She said she participated not only for fun but also to share this experience with her patients.

The importance of relaxing

“I want to remind them about the importance of spacing out and relaxing and how this positively affects your mental health,” she said after receiving her golden trophy, according to the Guardian.

Participants from around the world

The competition has already taken place in cities like Tokyo, Taipei, Beijing, and Rotterdam. This year’s participants came from South Korea and abroad, including France, Nepal, South Africa, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

"Sometimes doing nothing is essential"

The Guardian also interviewed another participant, Kim Ki-kyung, who almost arrived late because he was forced to work on Sunday morning. "Korean society is very competitive, so sometimes doing nothing is essential. I think we’ve forgotten how to do it," he concluded.