Daydream Your Way To A Happier Life
by Sheila McCormick on June 17th, 2009
Loading ...Remember that lazy kid in school who was always daydreaming? Maybe he wasn’t so lazy after all. There was a time when daydreaming was associated with laziness and lack of ambition. A daydreamer was considered to be a person who couldn’t stay on task and who did not use their time wisely.
Modern science has dispelled the myth that daydreaming is a waste of time. In fact, statistics show that becoming sidetracked with your favorite daydream can greatly improve your productivity. Many scientists believe that daydreaming is a fundamental feature of the human mind and refer to it as our “default” mode of thought. Instead of responding to the outside world, the daydreaming brain starts to contemplate its internal landscape. This is when new and creative connections are made. As one researcher put it: “We call it the ‘resting state,’ but the brain isn’t resting at all.”
Daydreaming is an excellent way to mentally recharge and improve our focus. Recent research conducted by Dartmouth College showed that during daydreaming our brain is doing very important work. While our brain is not really active during daydreaming, it processes very important tasks for us. For instance, when your mind wanders and you imagine a bright future, you will actually become happier and that creates a mindset that can lead to success in real life.
Like meditation, daydreaming allows your mind to take a refreshing mini-vacation to release tension and anxiety. Daydreaming is a great way to stay calm in an intense situation. Experts suggest taking a five-minute breather from stressful situations and picture yourself walking on the beach or doing something else you find enjoyable.
There are countless stories about successful people who have used daydreams as wells from which to draw creative thoughts. Composers, novelists and filmmakers often develop new ideas through daydreaming. Research scientists, mathematicians and physicists have found major breakthroughs while daydreaming. Einstein was one of the most notorious daydreamers in history.
Mental health experts recommend that you set aside time each day for daydreaming. Even though daydreaming itself is a spontaneous action, you can still set a certain time when you sit in a quiet spot and let your mind wander. If you do this on a regular basis you will be amazed at the way it boosts your creativity. When you daydream, your thoughts know no boundaries.
Daydreaming is not just the mind’s way of zoning out when reality is less than thrilling, psychologists say. It is an essential part of a healthy life. And like night dreams, daydreams reveal our innermost selves.
So give yourself permission to let your mind wander for a while. Find yourself a grassy spot in the park and just sit there and breathe in the fresh air while your mind takes a much-needed break from reality.
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