India, May 11 -- Picture this: no headphones, no phones, not even books while commuting. Just people sitting in silence as they commute, doing absolutely nothing. It's called #barebacking and it's about travelling sans digital crutches or entertainment. The term, coined by podcaster Curtis Morton, is for those who sit without entertainment and just stare at others. But since then, the term has gained recognition as a commuter trend, racking up 5 million hits. As per Swapnil Pange, psychologist at Psychologists Collective, intentionally commuting has multiple benefits: "You get to have more time to introspect, plan your day, or work. Stillness is required for your nervous system to get regulated due to excessive stimulation." As heightened tensions weigh heavily on everyone's minds, Dr Deeksha Parthsarthi, neuropsychiatrist at PSRI Hospital says the absence of constant stimulation can have a profound effect on our brain: "When we engage in scrolling, our brain is in a constant state of alertness. This can lead to heightened levels of stress. In contrast, 'barebacking' offers a break from this influx of information." Dolphy Goyal, a Gurugram-based educator, says, "I spend a lot of time commuting, and it's during quiet moments that inspiration hits, or feelings that I've been too busy to notice come up. My mind rarely slows down, but during these journeys, there's a pause." For Kanika, a portfolio manager in Delhi, commuting is all about observation: "While others might drown out the world with music or Instagram, I sit with my thoughts, noticing people and letting my mind wander like the metro itself." Sudha Singh, a Mumbai-based marketing professional, tells us that good old people-watching is her mental ritual. "I like observing people and imagining their stories. Sometimes I give them names and back stories. It's oddly calming and creatively stimulating," she shares....