24 Jul Daydreaming is necessary for problem-solving
And other counterintuitive research discoveries
There are limits to the conscious mind’s capacity for processing.
Truly.
Our minds switch back and forth between focused attention and daydreaming. Focused, undistracted attention enables us to get things done. Like building the pyramids. So at work we probably should never, ever let our minds wander.
Except that our daydreaming mode is responsible for our creativity; because when our attention is wandering, or unfocused, our minds are making connections among ideas that we wouldn’t normally link together; and suddenly we’re “able to solve problems that previously seemed unsolvable.” And those times of daydreaming function as restoratives, enabling us, ironically, to do more than if we worked longer hours without a break.
So to maximize productivity, scientists recommend partitioning our days, scheduling chunks of time for uninterrupted, focused work; and scheduling time for brain vacations. Maybe even a nap.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/opinion/sunday/hit-the-reset-button-in-your-brain.html?emc=eta1
Other things great for creativity, like being sleepy
Sometimes the inability to focus has benefits. We’re more likely to consider the irrelevant information straying around our brains, mostly because we can’t control it. As when we’re daydreaming, groggy thinking can help us make disparate connections and come up with more creative solutions.
http://www.wired.com/2012/02/why-being-sleepy-and-drunk-are-great-for-creativity/
Things bad for creativity, like being sleepless
Going without any sleep damages creativity, along with limiting ordinary brain function. When we sleep our brains go into maintenance mode, sorting and consolidating information and strengthening neural networks. Sleeping on a problem can really help solve it. Find out how: http://creativesomething.net/post/55777070869/no-sleep-and-its-effect-on-creative-thinking
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