Make the Most of Your Day Dreams
A recent study found that people who make the most of their daydreams are more creative. The study used a simple challenge where students were asked to come up with creative uses for common objects. Those who took the time to daydream were 41% more productive, and their ideas were more original. Furthermore, they formed new neural pathways in their brains that were previously unconnected. The results showed that daydreamers are more creative, and are more likely to create new ideas.
When you're daydreaming, try thinking of something pleasant and enjoyable. When you think of ice cream, you're likely to have a good time. This means you should think of something as enjoyable as possible. An example of this would be eating Mickey Mouse ice cream with your nephews. The goal is to hit both notes at once. Similarly, when you're daydreaming about something meaningful, consider playing music or playing a relaxing game.
Whether you're trying to figure out how to get more sleep or simply want to make the most of your daydreams, there are a number of methods that can help you maximize the benefit of your dreams. If you're unable to sleep well, you should develop a routine for sleeping and set aside an hour of uninterrupted time every night. The next step is to learn to relax. One way to fall asleep is to roll over and use a stress ball to get comfortable. You can also listen to music while daydreaming.
If you don't have a set schedule, try creating a guide for your daydreams. Focus on thoughts that make you happy, or that you find meaningful. For example, eating ice cream is a pleasant thought, but eating Mickey Mouse ice cream with your nephews on a tropical island is a more meaningful thought. Using this technique will help you stay focused, which will help you dream better.
Once you've determined your daily schedule, you should begin daydreaming. Creating a guide can help you remember what you want to achieve in the future. By focusing on the present, you can activate the problem-solving network in your brain. While daydreaming, you'll get to remember the past and even the present. Achieve your goal with ease and without stress. In addition, you can work on a personal project, which will help you meet your goals.
If you're self-conscious and feel like your daydreams are distracting you from your real-life situations, you might want to start using structured daydreams to make them more realistic. You may have a goal in mind, but it's hard to imagine it. You can disguise your daydreams with objects. When you use a prop, you'll be able to avoid being self-conscious.
Novelist Leon Rappaport once described daydreams as the source of all creativity. I would not go that far, but daydreams definitely are important for creativity on the whole.