How often does your mind wander? Could it be a good thing?
Psychologist Jonathan Smallwood’s research reveals that unhappy minds tend to wander into the past, while happy minds focus on the future, suggesting that wandering among memories helps us prepare for what’s to come. Smallwood’s studies also indicate that mind-wandering is not necessarily a waste of time but rather the brain’s way of getting work done when it perceives little external activity. When might mind-wandering be beneficial and when should it be controlled?
Today’s Theme: A Wandering Mind
Quotes
“Oh, my mind wanders down odd paths. But I don’t care. Some of the paths in my imagination are so much more interesting than the one I’m really on.”
― Billie Letts, Author – Made in the U.S.A.
“I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.”
– Steven Wright
Article
Scientists finally know why we get distracted — and how we can stay on track
When psychologist Jonathan Smallwood set out to study mind-wandering about 25 years ago, few of his peers thought that was a very good idea. How could one hope to investigate these spontaneous and unpredictable thoughts that crop up when people stop paying attention to their surroundings and the task at hand?… But Smallwood, now at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, forged ahead
https://www.inverse.com/science/science-distracted-thinking
Questions
- Reflect on a recent instance of mind-wandering. Were your thoughts focused on the past, present, or future?
- What is the emotional tone of your mind-wandering episodes? Are they typically associated with feelings of happiness, sadness, or neutrality?
- What triggers your mind wandering?