The wandering mind has a bad reputation. Many people compare it to an unhappy mind. Others say that mind-wandering hurts productivity. Professors would definitely prefer you to focus more on the lectures than the doodle you’re furiously scribbling at.
However, daydreaming may not be the worst thing for your mind.
Everyone has trouble paying attention. In a study done at the University of California at Santa Barbara, students attempting to read the beginning of Tolstoy’s War and Peace for 45 minutes caught themselves zoning out an average of 5.4 times. Even when trying hard to focus, our minds are practically programmed to wander.
Now, some experts are saying that it’s okay to let the mind wander on.
According to an article on NYMag.com, “In adapting to a complex world, we need to escape the here and now, and consider possible futures, mull over past mistakes, understand how other people’s mind work.” In essence, mind-wandering is the powerhouse of creativity. When the mind wanders, wider regions of the brain are active than when the mind focuses. These regions are referred to the “default-mode network.” The default-mode network covers the “default” areas your brain activates when the mind is not focusing on something.
This idle state of mind has been connected to an increase in creativity. In a study, participants performed better with the task of inventing new uses for normal objects after taking a mindless break, as opposed to a break that required focus. In order to spark inspiration, experts recommend watching a light T.V. show (Netflix anyone?) or even knitting.
In his book The Wandering Mind: What the Brain Does When You’re Not Looking, Michael C. Corballis writes, “However self-evidently counterproductive zoning out may be in many situations, there are certainly situations where it may be useful.”
So, if you’re trying to solve a problem, take a break and let your mind wander. The answer could come to you when you stop focusing so hard.
