Why Daydreaming is Good for You

Are you, like the best of us, guilty of finding yourself zoning out at your desk, thinking of something incredibly bizarre? Living out a series of different scenarios in your head may not seem like the most productive activity you’ve ever done. However, the latest research suggests that in small amounts, daydreaming may actually be good for your brain, and for boosting creativity.

1. It boosts creativity

Dan Hurley, author of Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power says: ?That kind of creative mind-wandering can be powerful for deep problem solving or creative thinking.?

According to The National Geographic, daydreaming mind cycles can access information in the brain that is dormant or out of reach. It may also allow us to approach problems in a way we wouldn’t have necessarily considered in our non-daydreaming thoughts.

Pst, there are also various studies to suggest that drinking alcohol while working can also boost creativity.

2. It relaxes us

This is without considering the fact that daydreaming can relax us when we may be stressed out or anxious. A well-known trick when approaching a stressful event such as an exam or meeting, is to mentally rehearse the situation you’re about to encounter.

3. It helps you feel closer to your significant other

Happy couples tend to think about one another when they’re apart, which has the effect of psychologically maintaining the relationship, says James Honeycutt, PhD, author of Imagined Interactions: Daydreaming about Communication.

4. It relieves boredom

Especially when completing particularly tedious tasks, daydreaming can be a great way to remove yourself from a situation that you find dull. According to Benjamin Mooneyham, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara, ?Mind wandering provides a great outlet to think about something that interests you when you’re surrounded by things that don’t.?

So, next time your mind wanders to Jamie Dornan showing up at the office and demanding to take you out for lunch, embrace it?

Hannah Popham @HannahPopham