Daydreamer – It’s not so bad!

I’ve had this ‘problem’ since I’ve been in first grade (probably even before that). I daydream…. Guilty as charged.  I’ll be in the middle of something and then suddenly find my thoughts wandering to other tasks or future aspirations. I found myself doing it right before posting to this blog, which (surprise surprise) inspired this post. I know this is part of the reason why I decided to pursue a career in writing. I’ve always put my thoughts on paper (yes I had a diary right into adulthood), and when my husband suggested I start a blog (because my thoughts simply won’t stop!)  the freelance writing spinned off from there:)

When I need to focus on a project with a strict deadline, I stay on task, but when I’m doing “mindless tasks” like making lunch, going for a walk, working out, watching TV or reading the paper, my mind tends to wander.

Now I say this is a “problem” but truthfully, it’s not and I’m not alone in saying this. Once thought to be a negative and lazy trait, daydreaming is now considered to be a crucial tool in creativity. As an article run by the Boston Globe suggests, scientists believe that when you daydream, you’re uncovering connections and inspiration otherwise unseen in your focused mindset.  I also found an article in Cosmos Magazine suggesting that daydreaming improves creative thinking.

For all you daydreamers out there, learn to use this habit to your benefit. Daydream about future projects and how you can improve them or where you would like your life to be in a year. Turn a seemingly unproductive trait into a productive one. I believe that if we dream it, it will come, we just have to make time to focus so we can actually achieve the things we daydream about;)  Who else daydreams? And how have you used it to your benefit?

Published in General Interest and tagged with business, creativity, daydreaming, projects