Let your mind wander

Studies say, it's good for you!

It happens to me all the time. I’m focusing on my edits, I’m deep into the story. Adding nuance and action where I need it. My character’s about to behave badly or have a conversation with her daughter or … My daughter, Erika, is brilliant. She’s such a good mom. I love how she is with my grand kids. Oh, and my grand daughters are so cute. Yesterday, they … I’ve let my mind wander. Again.

Do you do this too? Please share in the comments below!

Sometimes I find it hard to start. I’ll stand at my computer (because I have a standing desk) and try to come up with the best angle of attacking the subject, searching for the right words, or the right phrase. I’ll go to my photos to find inspiration, something connected to the topic. And the next thing I know I’m scrolling through vacation photos to send to my family. I have some good ones. Did you see my posts on Facebook and Instagram this week? Let me just pull this up for you ...

Never mind.

But as it turns out, letting your mind wander is really good for you. And it turns out someone studies this phenomenon.

In an article by Pam Moore in the Washington Post, letting your mind off the leash will enhance your creativity. She says, “When we reflect on memories, imagine what could have happened or how a certain scenario could play out in the future, our brains store this information the same way they do a real experience.” She’s talking about the studies in Moshe Bar’s book called Mindwandering: How Your Constant Mental Drift Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity.

There are also studies showing that an increasingly high number of Americans pick up their phones when they are waiting in line. In an Elevator. In a waiting room. In transit to anywhere. I do it when my husband is driving. And experts worry about how this effects our mental health. Could our declining mental be directly connected with our constant need shut off the naturally exploratory nature of our brains?

In another article by Tim Vernimmen in Knowable Magazine, he asks the question, Why Do Our Minds Wander? It’s a fascinating interview with Jonathon Smallwood about his research about the wandering mind. It turns out, it’s what we do to study the past and imagine a better future.

I recently read a Nathan Bransford post about it. He claimed our minds need time to walk on the wild side. He gives links to these and other great articles on this very subject. The info, the articles and research are out there.

This is my office window and the baby bunny hiding outside. Look at this cute little guy! See why my mind easily wanders?

There are times I need to unplug. I need to get into nature, get my hands dirty and plant some flowers. Gardening, going for hikes, cycling are all great times to let my mind wander. I give myself the permission to go off-trail. I never know what will come up. Perhaps it will be the next great idea for a new novel.

So the next time I’m thinking about the bunnies outside my office window, I’ll give my mind credit for doing what it needs to do.