The Joy in Wandering
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We all wander off sometimes–caught up in a thought, a song you just listened to, or even a favorite memory–a feeling that can often make hours feel like minutes. We have been told for ages that this is a bad thing, that these spurs of daydreaming or mindlessness are a problem that needs a fix. However, in many circumstances, this is untrue.
When our minds wander, we are able to draw connections from all across our brains. These instances are often when we are at our most creative states, using the information we've gained to make something new. By restricting our minds, and enforcing a constant spotlight of attention, we are suppressing our train of thought and free-flowing ideas.
““If we’re just frantically running around focusing on the external world exclusively, we miss the opportunity to let the brain digest what’s been going on.””
While mind-wandering can be extremely useful for the use of creative ideas, it isn't always the answer to every problem, as we often want to be focused in high-stress situations, learning and work environments, or even in conversations with others. Mind-wandering also tends to have general negative sentiment, with many people feeling like they are unproductive. A 2010 study done by Harvard Scientists Professor Dan Gilbert and Dr. Matthew Killingsworth found that most people rank themselves as less happy when mind-wandering. People often feel like they need tasks accomplished, even doing simple housework or homework, creates more happiness. The study concluded with the result "A wandering mind is an unhappy mind".
This suppression of mind wandering often is a two-way street, with our ability to focus also getting blocked by mindless scrolling and skimming on our phones. We are actively losing both our ability to focus and create ideas at a worldwide level, with the problem so embedded within society that no one seems to truly notice. By freeing ourselves of skimming attributes, we might be able to focus on dedicated tasks and have free-flowing ideas, all without our phones.
Hari, Johann. Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention–and How to Think Deeply Again. Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd, 2022.