5 Reasons Why Daydreaming is Actually Good For You
Back in our school days, kids would often
be caught daydreaming. “Where are you? Please pay attention,” we would
be told. Feeling embarrassed, we would quickly turn our attention to our
book, only to let our minds wander off again soon after.
Daydreaming, or mind wandering, is defined as the reverie we experience
while we’re awake. The Cambridge Dictionary describes it as "the
activity of thinking about pleasant things that you would like to do or
have happened to you, instead of thinking about what is happening now."
When we daydream, our thoughts are
disconnected from the environment and the task at hand because our mind
is overwhelmed, tired, or bored. Even as adults, many of us daydream –
more than we probably realize. Scientists say that adults spend almost
30% - 50% of their time daydreaming.
Even though it’s an activity that comes so
naturally, daydreaming is almost always frowned upon. After all, it’s a
waste of our precious time, right? Not quite. Contrary to popular
opinion, daydreaming has many benefits.
Let’s look at some of the reasons why mind wandering might be good for
you.
1. It helps us focus
Scientists believe that daydreaming can be an essential tool in helping
people achieve their goals. Dr. Gabriele Oettingen, a professor of
psychology at NYU, says that envisioning the awaited achievement of a
goal pushes us to stay committed and motivated.
Even Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, believed in the power
of daydreams. He stated they represent “the human desire to alter the
existing and often unsatisfactory or unpleasant world of reality.”
Additionally, research shows that mind wandering is often motivated by
our goals. Mind wandering that focuses on future planning allows us to
be better prepared. In sports, athletes sometimes try purposeful
daydreaming before a game to improve their performance. This method
helps them rewire their brains to envision the positive outcome they
desire.
2. It improves your creativity
Studies have demonstrated that daydreaming
has a direct connection with improved levels of creativity.
A study published in the American Psychological Association Journal
notes that two types of daydreams are beneficial. The authors of the
study believe that personally meaningful daydreams and those with
fantastical content are both linked with improved brain connectivity.
Psychologists say that, when faced with a complex problem, we should
avoid trying to obsess over it. Taking a break will give your mind the
space to receive and reveal new information. This is why most of us
stumble upon a moment of sudden insight or discovery in the middle of
mundane tasks like washing the dishes.
In one study, college students were given two minutes to devise as many
uses for everyday items like toothpicks and bricks as they could. The
results showed that those who daydreamed instead of continuously
focusing on the problem were 41% more productive and creative than the
other group.
Daydreaming is an exercise for your mind, says Bianca L. Rodriguez,
Ed.M, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Allowing our minds to
wander helps create a different perspective and invites creativity.
3. Can help manage anxiety
Having daydreams can relieve the symptoms
of anxiety. Anxiety is a natural stress response. Letting your mind
wander may provide you some much-needed respite from deliberating over
anxious thoughts when you’re stressed.
Research shows that when you tune out the outside world and allow your
thoughts to flow freely, you enter an alpha wave state where you are
calm and not thinking of anything unnecessarily.
Let’s say you just had an argument with a family member and you're
really stressed. In such a situation, try and let your mind wander to
something completely unrelated but enjoyable. Even if those thoughts are
far-fetched, they will help you forget about your current unpleasant
situation for some time.
4. It can improve your working memory
Scientists say that people who daydream often have a pretty capable
working memory.
A study conducted by scientists from the University of Wisconsin and the
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences asked
participants to perform easy tasks that would prompt daydreaming.
When the tasks were over, the researchers checked each participant's
working memory capacity by asking them to remember letters while doing
math equations. While all participants performed well on the task, the
researchers noticed that the ones who had allowed their minds to wander
scored higher on the working memory test.
"What this study seems to suggest is that, when circumstances for the
task aren't very difficult, people who have additional working memory
resources deploy them to think about things other than what they're
doing," said study author Jonathan Smallwood, of the Max Planck
Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science.
Working memory is the small amount of information that can be stored in
the mind and used to complete cognitive tasks. It gives the brain the
space to juggle multiple thoughts at the same time. The more working
memory a person has, the more mind wandering they can do without
forgetting the task at hand, the researchers of the study said.
5. It can increase performance
day
Daydreaming can also be used as an
effective tool to increase performance. Researchers at Bar-Ilan
University, Israel, found that mind wandering helps people improve task
performance by boosting brain function and preparing the mind to perform
complicated tasks.
Another study measured whether humans will wait for a large delayed
reward instead of settling for a smaller immediate reward. The
researchers discovered that people whose minds wander more also tend to
be more patient. Hence, they are more likely to make better decisions.
Experts believe this may be because mind wandering allows us to escape
the troubles of real life, which gives us the ability to withstand the
frustration of waiting longer for a reward.
So, try and disengage from your devices for a few minutes every day, and
just sit still. Close your eyes and let your mind wander. You might
feel restless initially, but with practice, you will start getting
better and be more relaxed with your wandering thoughts. Make sure those
thoughts are both pleasant and meaningful.
And one final note - while daydreaming undoubtedly has many benefits,
it’s equally important to understand that you shouldn’t indulge in it
when you’re doing anything that requires your complete, undivided
attention, such as driving, cooking, reading, or using heavy machinery.