What is the mind wandering? Why should we let it in? Is it our enemy? What are the benefits? ...when I am thinking about it, I found myself asking many questions related to it, so I found it interesting to dig a bit deeper and clear up some 'air'.
While a mind wandering can make it more difficult to get things done in the short term, I believe turning our brain loose (simply switch off) every now and again also has its benefits. There are good reasons why mind-wandering is so common in many people.
When it comes to mind wandering, there is a good correlation between the way we think and our mental health. However, we should not be worried that our mind wanders. It is more about how it wanders, especially when we are thinking about the future. Mind wandering is basically defined as the mind being 'off task', so it is no wonder it seems like a drag on productivity.
According to scientists mind wanders can actually do useful and important things for us, perhaps the most obvious is that it can relieve boredom, and put us in a better mood when our mind wanders into happy territory. Beside, researchers have also found a relationship between creative thinking and mind wandering. In many situations, mind that wander more is better at creative thought, than those that maintain more unerring focus.
'New research suggests that mind-wandering can serve important functions for our performance and well-being.'
When I am blog writing or planning my days, weeks ahead, I often choose to let my mind wander, hoping the muse will strike. And If it does (sometimes better, sometimes not at all), it not only moves my work along - but feels amazing too.
1. Mind wandering boost your creativeness
I certainly believe (from my own experiences) that mind wandering improves overall creativity and helps us solve problems (that little puzzles of life), daily tasks, etc. Mind wandering involve the default network of the brain, which is known to be active when we are not engaged directly in tasks and is also related to creativity.
So perhaps I’m right to let my focus wander while blog writing. As it does help my mind put together information and therefore potentially compelling ways without me realising it. It’s no wonder that my best inspirations seem to come when I’m in the process of my daily workout, walking dogs, spending time outdoors, etc. You should find that perfect way of letting yourself go and let you mind wander to places you feel complete. To me, this is crucial and gives me opportunity to learn more about myself, the way I feel, they way I go.
2. Mind wandering could complete you overall and makes you happier
However, the relationship between mind wandering and mood may be more complicated than we thought.
'Those of us who regularly find our minds in the clouds—musing about the topics that most engage us—can take solace in knowing that at least this form of mind-wandering is associated with elevated mood.'
Researchers found out that people who engaged in compassion-focused meditation practices had more positive mind-wandering. As an added bonus, people with more positive mind-wandering were also more caring toward themselves and others, which itself is tied to happiness. And form my practises I could not agree more!
3. Mind wandering could improve your work performance
Of course, not every job calls for mind-wandering (as and example take a surgeon - He should stay focused on the task at hand, since mind-wandering (in this case) could be detrimental. However even for him it might be rejuvenating to take a mind-wandering break after workday is over, leading to more focused attention the next time around. Right? :)
4. Mind wandering can help you set up your future goals
It seems like mind-wandering would be detrimental when it comes to planning for the future. In fact, some research suggests mind-wandering can improve goal-setting.
There is not one way or another, under the right circumstances, a mind wandering may actually benefit us and possibly those around us. The only trick is to know when to set your mind free and how to use it in latter tasks and decisions.
5. There are three things that we can do to promote healthy mind-wandering
- Be mindful of how your mind wanders. Always pay attention to where your mind heads when it goes off task. Even when your mind is on the future, it is likely to be oriented by present concerns and problems. If you keep going to the same place, it may be time to do something about it. But also, it would be helpful to notice if your imaginings are primarily positive or negative, since this may signal changes in your emotional wellbeing and have wider implications for your mental health.
- Cultivate your imagination to picture positive experiences in your future. Firstly, it is specifically our imagination and not our verbal thinking that is most closely linked to our emotions. In other words, it is not enough to tell yourself everything is going to be ok - you have to show it to yourself. Picture it in as much concrete and sensory detail as possible. The idea of positive visualisations of the future has long been used by athletes to improve their performances. When we practice positive imagination consciously (and I do that too, on many occasions), it makes it more likely that we will head there when our mind wanders. ;)
- Put up positive signposts. Research shows that how our mind wanders is influenced by environmental cues. It is possible that surrounding yourself with cues that are related to positive emotions for you can promote more positive mind-wandering.
(I practise this all the time :) and I certainly got it from my dad. He though me this from young age, with little signposts everywhere and just about anything - always positive. He used to surprise me with them :) Like when I opened the notebook in school I surprisingly saw that little yellow piece of sticky tag with the inspirational or motivational sentence on ... Oooh well, warms my heart even today - wow).
Anyways. hopefully you find this inspirational and will give yourself opportunity to wander. Find your own way of practising it, in your own time and your own environment. It is about you to discover more and mainly advance your purpose.
Until next time, S.
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