Let’s daydream lots over Easter
Do you remember being told at school to stop daydreaming and focus on what you are supposed to be doing? Well! I do – distinctly and often!
It’s Easter break and I’m going to instruct you to daydream as much as you want. Daydreaming is part of Down Time which I have selected from our Healthy Mind Platter this week to coincide with our break.
Remember the Healthy Mind Platter is from an article from the NeuroLeadership Institute where they look at what we need for our brains to be alert, creative and resilient. Brain power has become more important than muscle power for most of us with our knowledge- and service-driven world.
So, what is Down Time?
Down Time is actually intentionally having no intention. It’s consciously engaging in doing nothing specific.
Down time is different from leisure time because often leisure time such as a picnic has a pre-planned aspect to it with a goal or pre-set agenda such as catching up with friends and family. Down time is more about “being” in the moment with spontaneous emergence of whatever activity may or may not arise. It’s about letting our mind wander off in no particular direction with freedom and free-spirit.
I call it flop time. Other words for it are chilling out, loafing, hanging out or lazing. It’s not highly regarded because it sounds like we are lazy, rudderless and being a wastrel or good-for-nothing.
Neuroscience is showing that our minds need spacing to allow disparate bits of information to be connected. Down time provides this spacing. It allows creativity to flow as well as a chance to quiet the internal mind-chatter. It allows us to step-back from the swirl of doing, doing and doing which our current modern society appears to value.
Researchers have also shown that insight is preceded and aided by disconnecting from deliberate, goal-directed, conscious thinking. A meta-analysis confirmed, across many studies, that unconscious thought produces better decisions than when people decide immediately using conscious and logical reasoning.
In their book The Break-out Principle, Benson and Proctor (2003) explain that the best way for solving challenging issues or complex problems is first to struggle with it, through problem analysis or fact gathering. Once you have reached the point where you feel you are not productive and you start feeling anxious or stressed, you need to distract yourself from the problem.
Distraction time can be as simple as going for a walk, taking a hot shower or listening to some calming music. Often, this distraction time will provide a whole new perspective on the problem as well as wonderful fresh solutions.
Problems are more likely to be solved with insight if you are in a positive mood. If you are anxious and stressed, you are unlikely to be in a positive state. It’s more likely that you are in a fear and negative mind-set where the drama and the detail is not allowing you to see the bigger picture of your problem or situation.
Down time and distraction time can hopefully stabilise the mind and lead to a happier mind-set. We need to learn to value our regular breaks – daily, weekly and long-term sabbaticals too.
So, this Easter break, without guilt, enjoy your flop and chill-out time. Fill your mind with daydreams while you meander through your days and go easy on the chocolate (only kidding about the chocolate).
Just enjoy!