Every now and then I find myself looking out the window for a few minutes without being able to blink. I’m in my space physically, but my mind is somewhere else. Many times I wondered why I do that and what does it mean. Daydreaming used to be seen as something negative. Contrary to popular opinion, daydreaming is actually an important activity of the brain. Daydreaming, or ‘thinking for ’ actually has important health benefits.
Good or bad?
I think that daydreaming is a superpower we all have. It can and it should be used a lot more as it can help us travel with the power of our imagination. Daydreaming is very different than rumination or worrying. It is a mental process that helps us think of fun stuff, positive stuff. But if we end up thinking of negative things and we get stuck in that pattern, it can be harmful for us in the end. This is most likely why daydreaming gained a bad rep in the past.
Psychology professor at University of Florida as well as study author Erin Westgate, published a press release about daydreaming in March 2021. Westgate says that in order to daydream, “You have to be the actor, director, screenwriter and audience of a mental performance. Even though it looks like you’re doing nothing, it’s cognitively taxing.” But it’s worth it, because daydreaming has positive health benefits.
5 benefits of daydreaming
While I was writing this blog I think I stopped twice and I literally had a daydream. It was a really good and productive one. In the span of 1 minute I came up with a few ideas on how to improve my work. There are good things that come with our daydreaming superpower, so here are top five benefits:
You can give different parts of your brain a break
There are two important systems working in your brain every day: the decision-making analytic part and the empathetic part. When one is fired up, the other can have a rest. Daydreaming allows your brain to move all king of chemicals in a rhythmic movement between these part of of your brain. It does so by turning either side on or off as your imagination runs wild.
You can increase your creativity
Many famous people consider that daydreaming is responsible for having great ideas. This is because when we daydream, our thoughts go to different part of our brains. Our thoughts gather pieces of information that connect at some point. These new connections help you come up with new ideas.
It lowers stress and anxiety
Whenever I’m daydreaming I feel like everything else around me doesn’t exist anymore for a few moments. It’s so quiet! All that there is left is just me and my thoughts. Researchers call this the ‘alpha zone’ when we are calm and we think of things from a creative perspective. A good opportunity for fellow millennials to stop and smell the flowers.
It can help you solve problems
Because daydreaming is not something forced, this allows you to come up with creative solutions to various problems. When we look at things from a different perspective, we are able to come up with different answers. And as the mind is free to roam and imagine things, you might surprise yourself with what your brain can produce.
It expands your creativity
When I do the dishes or fold laundry away, I’m never really fully there. That’s because my brain already know how to perform those tasks. So instead, I allow my mind to wander. Many times I come back to things I need to solve at work or in my private life. I allow my mind to go wild on those thoughts. Many times I surprised myself with an idea I would have otherwise never come up with. I love to notice the connections that take place in my mind!
Daydreaming is not as bad as you might have heard. It’s a way for the mind to escape deadlines and ‘must do’ activities. despite the bad rap it received in the past, more and more research shows just how important it is. Even more so in our current stressful and busy lifestyles. So next time someone tells you off for daydreaming, just tell them that this is one of your hidden superpowers.
