Written by: Grace Jones, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Far from being a waste of time, daydreaming can be a valuable tool for problem-solving and creativity. As a child I loved to daydream, imagining myself in all sorts of exotic places and having exciting adventures. Sadly, I was discouraged again and again by teachers who thought I was just staring out of the window, wasting time. How wrong they were.
Throughout history, people have engaged in daydreaming, and it is considered to be a universal phenomenon experienced across many cultures and societies worldwide. Although the specific content of daydreams may differ, based on cultural norms and values, the fundamental psychological processes behind daydreaming are thought to be universal.
The Japanese even have a word for it – Boketto. Although there is no precise translation, Boketto is usually described as the act of gazing into the distance, without thinking about anything in particular.
The daydreaming brain
Even when we are not engaged in a specific task, our brains are still active. They are constantly processing information and monitoring our environment to keep us safe and help us navigate the world. Although we’re not consciously aware of it, our brains are constantly working to process sensory information, control our bodily functions, and regulate our emotions. Even during sleep our brains continue to process information and consolidate memories.
During our waking hours though boredom, lack of engagement and stress may all lead to wandering thoughts as the brain looks for other sources of stimulation, because our brains are wired for continuous activity. How often, when you’ve been engaged in a boring or monotonous task, have you found yourself thinking about other more interesting things that you’d rather be doing?
Fuelling your creativity
When our minds wander and we daydream, it can actually be really helpful for coming up with new ideas and solving problems. This is what Moshe Bar, a professor who studies the brain, has found.
When we think about things that happened in the past or imagine things that could happen in the future, our brains treat them like real experiences. This can help us think of new ideas for the future, and studies have shown that daydreaming can make us more creative and better at solving problems.
Additionally, Bar found that our minds are most creative when we are not feeling stressed or having to think really hard about something. When we are relaxed, our minds can come up with more original ideas. Daydreaming can even make us feel happier, and feeling creative can make us more open to new experiences.
In a study from the University of British Columbia it was reported that our brains are very active when we daydream, more so than when we focus on routine tasks, and that the brain areas associated with complex problem-solving are highly active during these episodes. This suggests that daydreaming is an important cognitive state where we may unconsciously turn our attention from immediate tasks to sort through important problems in our lives.
It has been suggested too that daydreaming can help us process our feelings and emotions, the argument being that sometimes people stay busy all the time to avoid feeling certain emotions. But taking time to think and reflect can actually help us feel better and reduce anxiety.
Embrace the value of daydreaming
As I mentioned at the start of this article, children are sometimes discouraged from daydreaming because it can be seen as a distraction from the task at hand, such as paying attention in class or completing homework.
Teachers and parents may believe that daydreaming indicates a lack of focus or discipline, and consequently encourage children to stay more engaged in the present moment. Some cultural beliefs may prioritize productivity and efficiency over creativity and imagination, leading to a devaluation of daydreaming as a worthwhile activity.
As we grow up, our brains undergo several changes that may also contribute to a decrease in daydreaming. One of the main reasons is that we become more focused on reality and practical goals as we age. We begin to prioritize responsibilities such as work, relationships, and other obligations, which can leave less time for daydreaming.
But with research showing that daydreaming has benefits both for creativity and problem-solving maybe it’s time to embrace it and seek to strike a balance between encouraging focus and discipline while also recognizing the potential benefits of allowing the mind to wander sometimes.
Boost your creativity with Boketto
Whereas daydreaming is usually spontaneous and unstructured, Boketto is a little different, involving deliberately allowing the mind to wander and entering a state of relaxation, often by focusing on something other than the task at hand. A such it can be used as a more intentional way to engage this creative state. Here’s what to do.
Set aside time: Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can relax and let your mind wander. Set aside a specific time each day or week to engage in this intentional form of daydreaming.
Have a creative goal in mind: Before you start, think about a specific creative goal or problem you want to solve. This could be coming up with new ideas for a project, brainstorming solutions to a problem, or visualizing a scene for a story.
Allow your mind to wander: Once you've identified your creative goal, let your mind wander freely. Don't try to control or direct your thoughts too much. Instead, let them flow naturally and see where they take you.
Stay open to new ideas: As you daydream, pay attention to the thoughts and ideas that come up. Try to stay open to new and unexpected connections, even if they don't seem to make sense at first.
Capture your ideas: Keep a notebook or journal handy to capture any new ideas or insights that come up during your daydreaming sessions. This can help you remember and build on these ideas later.
Isn’t it great to know that something that came so naturally to you as a child is actually good for you?
Perhaps it is something that humans have evolved to naturally practice, because even with fewer distractions in the past, our brains still needed and relied on these moments of reflection and contemplation to stay healthy and balanced.
Why not spend a little time re-learning this unique form of meditation and rediscover the creativity booster that really is as easy as child’s play!
Grace Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Grace Jones is a former freelance IT Consultant who is very familiar with the stress of working in demanding environments. Ten years ago she chose to study hypnotherapy to better understand how our thoughts influence our behaviour, habits and results. She went on to create the RISE Resilience system, designed to help people understand and effectively manage the increasing levels of stress, anxiety and burnout that so many are struggling with in this post-COVID world. Today she is an enthusiastic speaker, trainer and breathing coach ‒ "Training your brain to work for you..."
