The benefits of daydreaming and ways to develop imagination

Do you remember when was the last time you were alone and thought long and hard? It is not possible to dream and be alone with our thoughts in modern life, where to-do lists are getting longer, notifications are pouring in from all sides, and social media is occupying the times when we are alone with ourselves.

Our imagination, which could reach the stars as a child, can become dull with the responsibilities we 'choose' to focus on and the preoccupations we create as adults. So much so that the vast majority of us may even prefer to be aroused by electroshock instead of being alone with our thoughts! Yes, you heard right: In 2014, the results of a study by researchers from the University of Virginia and Harvard University showed that 67% of male respondents and 25% of female respondents would rather be given electric shocks than sit and think.

So, how does this skill, which we can use without any effort as a child, become a situation that we avoid in adulthood? Why is it so scary to daydream and be alone with our thoughts? How do improving our imagination skills and expanding our imaginations contribute to our lives?

Benefits of daydreaming

Daydreaming and wandering thoughts do not have a very good reputation as a way of thinking that is often associated with problems such as distraction and inability to focus. However, letting our thoughts flow without any purpose and wandering in the folds of our minds is an extremely beneficial activity that develops mental power. While for some, the abnormally long and inconsistent daydreaming processes hinder the fulfillment of our daily responsibilities and productivity, it is known that meditating on the things that make us happy increases productivity, supports creativity, and helps regulate emotions.

Author and neuroscientist Caroline Leaf, in her book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, says that when we dream, we actually format our minds, and when we dream, our brain rests, our thoughts become clear, and new neural connections are established.

University of Florida Psychology Professor Erin Westgate says that deep thinking and daydreaming are one of the most important cognitive tools and we need to use this cognitive tool frequently to balance our emotions. Letting our mind wander through thoughts can also help us cope with boredom and avoid aggressive behavior.

According to another study conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2019, daydreaming also contributes to our responsibilities in business life. It was observed that the participants in the study made fewer mistakes after a short daydreaming break. Taking a daydream allows us to successfully complete 'boring' tasks, especially those that require prolonged focus and repetition. Different studies from the past also show that thinking and daydreaming in our free time can increase pain tolerance and make it easier to fall asleep.

Ways to develop imagination

The results of the joint work of Westgate and a group of researchers show that creating lists, that is, small stimuli to support mental processes, can make daydreaming much easier and more enjoyable. The researchers ask all participants to come up with eight topics they would enjoy thinking about. The resulting lists are transcribed, projected onto the screen, and written on cards. The fact that these topics are in a place where they can see and direct their thoughts allows the participants to dream more happily and with pleasure.

In the absence of any direction, our mind can get caught up in difficulties, the empty glass and sad events, and put everything that is happy and fun into the background. Therefore, when you start thinking without finding any subject that you are happy about, that gives you pleasure and that you enjoy thinking about, it is very possible that your mind will shift to the negative and you will feel uncomfortable because of your thoughts. As a result, you can make daydreaming much more enjoyable and motivate yourself to think by combining your thinking process with topics, objects, situations or people that make you happy. For example, if eating ice cream is an activity that makes you happy, imagining that you are eating ice cream while lying on the beach, going to an ice cream shop with your friends after work, or having a colorful ice cream shop in the future will be pleasant and meaningful for you.

1. Make your own list

Make a list of everything that is meaningful and valuable to you and makes you feel happy when you think about it. Try to find a happy memory, something you look forward to, a future achievement you want to achieve, or creative, fun fantasies like eating ice cream. When making your list, be sure to leave out your daily responsibilities and negative experiences.

2. Personalize your list

As in Westgate's work, you can project your list on the screen, write it on small cards, or keep it in a place where you can always see it by personalizing it in a form enriched with visuals, such as a vision board.

3. Identify an appropriate time frame for daydreaming

It will be easier for you to daydream while brushing your teeth, walking or sitting on public transport. The mind can wander through thoughts more easily during routine activities that we do without thinking too much about it. At this and similar times, you can practice letting your mind wander freely between your thoughts, and as you feel more comfortable doing this in the future, you can try to take small dream breaks while working.

4. Be patient

While sometimes it may seem like just staring into space, daydreaming can actually be quite cognitively exhausting. It may not be as easy as you think to shoot a 'film' in which the director, screenwriter, actors and cameramen are all 'yourself'. Therefore, remember that when your thoughts start to tire you, you should also take a break from daydreaming.

It's important to be kind to yourself when you practice daydreaming, as it should be when learning all life skills and trying new things. When you follow all these steps and turn daydreaming into a routine practice, you will look forward to spending more time in the folds of your mind without even realizing it.