Daydreaming can make you smarter

by Lional Wijesiri

Tamara is a passionate daydreamer, but she has no qualms about it. In her younger days she was known among many people as a “non-focused, non-ambitious girl.” When she was a teenager, she was beginning to question herself, why people look down on with disdain on daydreaming? Later in life, she realised that in a culture that values productivity and goal-directed behaviour, daydreaming is looked at as either a momentary distraction or irresponsible mind loafing.

However, the reality is completely different.

Daydreamers might miss a detail here or there, but those who do it often gain one thing that is frequently missing in society: imagination.

Tamara says she has created so many stories in her head, as a child and as an adult she wrote them down sometimes.

At times, the impulse becomes so unbearable that she used to write something, anything.

Not only has daydreaming compelled her to create interesting stories of human interest, but it has developed her mind, since she was always imaging new worlds, situations, figures, and stories. Today Tamara is a seasoned freelance writer working with international newspapers, magazines and journals.

Perhaps this explains why daydreaming turns on the brain’s problem-solving functions. You aren’t thinking about random things; you’re trying to rectify an issue that you’re having.

Without big dreamers, what kind of world would we live in today? The answer is: a bleak one.

Scientific view

Whether you call it zoning out, spacing out or daydreaming, we spend up to 47 percent of our waking lives letting our minds wander.

They help us realise our goals, and reveal our innermost hopes, desires and fears. ‘Paradoxical though it sounds, daydreaming is what makes us organised,’ says Eric Klinger, ex-professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota.

‘We think of daydreams as scatterbrained and unfocused, but one of the functions of daydreaming is to keep your life’s agenda in front of you; it reminds you of what’s coming up, it rehearses new situations, plans the future and scans past experiences so you can learn from them.’

Although we’re often told that having our head in the clouds is a waste of time, daydreaming has many benefits. According to Klinger, ‘Daydreams help us get the most out of our brain power, and are an essential personal resource for coping with life.’ Sounds like something we should all be doing more of.

Plus points

So what do you do to make the best of daydreaming? (1) Relax. Like meditation, daydreaming allows your mind to take a break, a mini-vacation in which to release tension and anxiety and “return” refreshed.

It's also very useful for controlling anxiety and phobias. Say, for example, that you're afraid of flying, which you have to do for an upcoming trip.

By mentally rehearsing the various steps involved - driving to the airport, getting on the plane, taking off, etc. - you'll be better able to handle the actual events. (2) Manage conflict.

The same kind of organised daydreaming used to curb anxiety is also useful for personal conflicts. Psychotherapists call it “rewinding the tape.”

As you review in your mind an argument you had with someone, you go back and imagine responding differently than you did.

Try this a few times, responding differently each time, and you'll begin to figure out better ways of dealing with the person in the future. (3) Cement your beliefs and values.

When you daydream about scenarios in which you're trying to convince someone of something you believe in strongly, you are also in a sense getting to know yourself and what you stand for better. (5) Boost creativity and achieve goals.

The beauty of daydreams is that nothing is impossible. Business executives daydream about seeing their Business Plan.

They find that when they aim high while daydreaming, they end up working harder to make their dreams become realities. Olympic athletes and performers use this same kind of visualisation.

All this is not to say that there aren't potential negatives to daydreaming. Obsessive thinking, for example, can interfere with day-to-day functioning in some cases.

Likewise, lonely people can further isolate themselves if they spend a too much time ruminating about the past. In general, though, we should disallow the negative stereotypes and become “genuine daydream believers.”

If somebody finds fault with you for daydreaming, just tell the person that from Einstein to Newton, some of the best ideas and most important scientific breakthroughs have been dreamt up during a little ‘down time'.