Daydreaming is one of the best ways to bring out new ideas. When you give your mind time to fantasize, you are amazed at how creative it can be. Daydreaming about achieving your goals can motivate you to pursue them. Next time you have a few minutes to spare, consider daydreaming instead of playing a video game or reading the news. As a result, you will feel more relaxed, positive and motivated.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting started
Step 1. Give permission
Sometimes daydreaming brings with it a bad reputation, because people consider it a waste of time. When you have 20 minutes of rest, wouldn't it be worth using them more productively? Studies have shown that daydreaming is actually productive. It has the power to help you be more creative, and also motivated to achieve your goals. So persist and give yourself permission to put daydreams into your day's schedule.
- A study conducted at the University of Santa Barbara, California found that daydreamers perform 41% better than others on tests that measure creativity.
- On the other hand, when you just let your mind wander away from the present to some fantasies that probably won't come true, for example winning the lottery, daydreams can make you miserable. Research seems to indicate that focusing on the present moment leads to greater happiness, so prevent your daydreaming from turning into an escape from reality.
Step 2. Free yourself from other distractions
Daydreaming, as well as at night, provides the best results when you are in a calm state, devoid of too many attention calls. Before starting a daydreaming session, try to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, even if you only have a few minutes. You can do it anywhere, at any time, both indoors and outdoors and during the course of your day.
- If possible, find a quiet place to dream, such as an empty room or even a bathroom. If you want to dream in a public place, it can be useful to use earphones to get enough away from the world and let your mind fantasize.
- Before starting daydreams, make sure you are not hungry or thirsty, or have other needs that may distract you.
- Listening to music can help you distract yourself from outside distractions, and even improve your daydreams. Music is in fact full of emotions, so why not choose some songs that suit the soul of your dreams?
Step 3. Look out of a window or close your eyes
Every daydreamer's preferences are slightly different. Some people find it easy to let their mind wander while looking out the window or into space, while others prefer to close their eyes. Do whatever helps you relax and think without being distracted.
Step 4. Let your mind fantasize in a positive direction
There are multiple types of daydreams, and not all of them have a positive effect on your mind and mood. By letting your mind be consumed with negative thoughts (for example thinking about how to take revenge on your ex) you will end up getting yourself down. But the great thing about daydreaming (as opposed to lucid dreams and nocturnal dreams) is that you can control your thoughts, so that each session gives you a sense of well-being.
- Daydreaming in a positive-constructive way is connected with openness to new experiences, with happiness and creativity.
- On the other hand, daydreaming in a guilty-dysphoric way, such as fantasizing about failure and unpleasant things happening or harming others, leads to negative emotions including anxiety and guilt.
- The third type of daydreaming happens when you have poor control over attention and your mind wanders all over the place because you have difficulty focusing on the present. This way of dreaming has no positive effects, because it is not under your control.
Part 2 of 3: Knowing What to Dream With Your Eyes Open
Step 1. Dream about the future you want
Daydreaming with a goal in mind can give you the motivation to achieve it. Imagine your life having achieved the results you want. Stage your future as if you saw it unfolding, giving yourself total freedom to indulge in your fantasies. Will you become president? Will you be moving to a tropical island? Will you start your own company? Will you fall in love and build a family? In your daydreams, anything is possible.
Try to imagine all the things that would make you happy and put them in a story. Make the story and characters coherent and real and give a positive connotation to situations, developing them every time you dedicate yourself to your daydreams
Step 2. Dream about your favorite things
It may not be as productive as dreaming about your goals, but it's definitely fun to dream about what you like best. Dream about those things that make you happy, for example some people, activities, places or foods, or anything that is able to make you smile. Don't forget, though, that making a habit of daydreaming about your favorite things to distract yourself from what's in front of you in reality could cause your happiness to decrease.
- Therefore, if you love to cheer yourself up by fantasizing about your favorite vacation spot, fortify your level of happiness by planning to actually visit it as soon as possible.
- Instead, dreaming of something that isn't achievable, like having a romantic relationship with a person who isn't actually single, can force you into a feeling of frustration.
Step 3. Play a part in your dreams
Imagine a real life situation and put it into action in your mind. Mentally recite the movements in greater detail and with as much energy as possible. This will improve your problem-solving skills and gaining another person's point of view.
- Alternatively, imagine being catapulted into the world of your favorite book or movie. What would you do? How would other characters react to your sudden appearance? (Unless you were already on stage!) What would the antagonist say?
- You can also imagine that you are someone else, and think about the qualities you admire in that person. How would this new you react to different situations and problems?
Step 4. Come up with something creative
Daydreaming is a great way to find valuable new ideas for innovative stories, music, arts and products. Let your mind wander and see what it can come up with. Don't set limits!
- For example, you can think of a product you like and understand what could make it better and how you could do it.
- If you like your ideas, don't forget to write them down. You may end up using them!
Part 3 of 3: Knowing Where to Daydream
Step 1. Daydream during school or work breaks
The best thing about daydreaming is that you can really do it anytime, anywhere. When you have free time between lessons or between projects, give your mind a break. When you have time to dedicate to yourself, try daydreaming rather than entertaining yourself with a phone or computer. Your tired brain will thank you!
Dreaming in class or at work is a popular pastime, but it can get you into trouble when you don't pay attention to what's happening in front of you. Try to focus on what's happening in the moment and reserve your daydreams for those truly distraction-free environments
Step 2. Daydream in the car, train or bus
Dreaming while you are traveling along a path is one of the best things. Something happens in seeing the world as it goes by behind a window that helps our minds relax and let go. Try to sit by the window and take the opportunity to let your mind wander when you feel the need to.
Step 3. Daydream while exercising
If you love running, swimming, walking or other solitary physical activities, you have an additional opportunity to dream. Use that time to think about what you'd like, whether it's coming up with the plot of a short story you're writing or planning your Christmas vacation.
Step 4. Daydream in the morning and in the evening
In the first and last hours of the day, just before falling asleep, you will find ideal moments to daydream. You will already be in bed, with a relaxed mind and almost free of distractions. Logic seems to interfere less when you are too tired to consider your daydreams absolutely ridiculous.
Advice
- A great time to daydream is when something is making you miserable, or when you have an idea you want to develop. Daydreams lift the spirits, and you never know what wonderful things you will be able to come up with!
- Create a completely new character for yourself, a kind of role-playing game, but in your own head. Put that character in different situations!
- To further enhance your daydreams, develop your tactile memory by touching things and then try to remember the sensations.
- Learn to daydream and pay attention to your surroundings at the same time. You may think that the purpose of daydreaming is being misrepresented, but the process will be simplified.
- Don't do this when it assumes you need to do something else at school or at work. Side effects include dismissal and unwelcome grades.
- Don't get your head elsewhere while you're talking to a person, or you'll risk irritating them.
