Why daydreaming is productive and good for you

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I was looking out the window just as big bird swooped past. I must have gasped out loud because my fourth grade teacher pounced on me like a duck on a june bug. “Stop daydreaming,” she hollered. “Pay attention!” I was mortified. Traumatized. Shamed.

Probably every one of you has a story like mine–of how you were innocently daydreaming and then were rudely informed that you were wasting time. And that’s just one way that daydreaming gets a bad rap.

I mean, seriously, daydreaming is doing nothing, right? Not. Productive. Oh yeah? Phooey on that.

I am here to tell you that daydreaming is good for you. And I want you to get more of it. Preferably first thing everyday, before you start checking email and all that other stuff. Here’s why.

When you’re daydreaming or doing some sort of task that isn’t very intellectually demanding–like washing dishes, say–you’re using a very important part of your brain. It’s called the “default mode network” or DMN, for short. When you’re using your DMN, you’re moving from one thought to another, not really thinking about anything in particular, bouncing from memories to plans to wondering what that stubborn sticky glob of goo is clinging to that plate.

Scientists are learning about the DMN not only from studying people who are healthy but from looking at the brain function of people with Alzheimer’s disease, which turns out to be vitally connected with the DMN. In fact, part of what goes wrong in Alzheimer’s is that the affected person can’t switch gears and move out of the DMN to other parts of their brain. They become stuck in a permanent daydream, so to speak.

In healthy people, the DMN helps you do things like imagine what other people are thinking–vital to your social relationships–as well as helping you to make sense of what’s going on around you. And the better your DMN functions, the better you will be at activities like planning and setting goals and juggling multiple roles and responsibilities.

Seven Dimensions Summary:

• Taking time to daydream and incubate your thoughts improve your performance in the Sixth Dimension of Productivity: Strategy, which includes planning and goal setting.

• A little daydreaming session at the beginning of your day may improve your focus (the Second Dimension) by allowing you to think things through in advance.

Why the default mode network and productive daydreaming is worth talking about…as my fourth grade teacher pointed out, daydreaming gets pooh-poohed as wasted time. Dispel that nasty lie! Taking time to think, to mull things over, to incubate ideas is one of your most valuable assets.

Some interesting articles about the DMN
• Walking is good brain exercise: "Researchers have discovered that moderate exercise, such as walking for 40 minutes three times a week, can enhance cognitive skills."
• An idle brain may be the self's workshop: "Just as sleep appears to play an important role in learning, memory consolidation and maintaining the body's metabolic function, some scientists wonder whether unstructured mental time — time to zone out and daydream — might also play a key role in our mental well-being."

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Word of Mouth Wednesday:

Yay! It's Word of Mouth Wednesday! This is when I ask (nag, some might say) that you spread the word about The Productivity Maven. You might:

• Forward this post to someone who's needs some daydreaming encouragement–forwarding posts is easy, just click the "Share this" button at the bottom of the post.

• Link to one of these posts on Twitter (and while you're at it, follow me @TaraRodden)

• Become a fan on my Facebook page or tell folks you've found a post that you like–there's a Facebook "Like this" button in the post footer.

Thanks for your support! Word of mouth is just the best.