The Benefits Of Daydreaming, As A Natural Tired Antidote To Make You More Productive

Illustration of a daydreaming man (Unsplash / Zachary Nelson)

JAKARTA - In the midst of activity, thoughts often wander. Drop in on things outside of work or wander off in daydreams. Daydreaming is a mental condition that is natural.

There are a number of studies finding that the effects of daydreaming are negative. On the one hand, daydreaming is considered a destroyer of mental health. However, a 2019 comprehensive study by Kelsey Merlo and colleagues from the Georgia Institute of Technology found otherwise.

This study involved workers with an average age of 40 years with various types of work. Half of the participants were Caucasian, 45% African American, and 5% Asian. In his study, Marlo divided fact finding into three parts, namely the beginning, the end, and the results.

In the initial part, participants were interviewed about the triggers of daydreams. The majority responded because of sadness, fatigue or boredom. There are also answers because they saw something or someone. From the initial stages it was concluded that daydreaming can be driven by mental conditions that are internal and external.

Furthermore, daydreams are awakened by external and internal cues. External cues, for example, e-mail notifications, greetings from people at work or around.

Meanwhile, internal cues emerge from the awareness of each person, for example the story in the daydream has ended and realizes that they are distant from reality.

Interestingly, daydreaming has an effect on one's mental health and productivity at work. Based on the responses of participants in Marlo's study, they describe the various effects of daydreaming.

On the negative side, participants felt guilty for 'wasting' productive time to relive sad events in the daydream world. However, the positive impact picture is many. They may find that spending time daydreaming triggers guilt.

This guilt actually becomes a whip to finish work faster and immediately finish off the cut time to daydream.

Reporting from Psychology Today, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. - professor emeritus of Psychology and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst reviewed a study by Marlo. According to him, a software consultant found daydreaming very short.

This means, not feeling annoyed by cut work time due to daydreaming and actually feeling fun. Some study participants stated that they worked harder after their daydreams ended. This is done to make up for the lost time and energy.

The response of a participant who works as a financial administrator was also recorded. Have a break filled with daydreaming, after which make fewer mistakes. He admitted that because I was bored with my assignment, my mind wandered or daydreamed.

In essence, from the answers of several respondents it can be concluded that the effect of daydreaming is not always negative. Although some also admit that daydreaming is a waste of time. Furthermore, based on the common thread that Whitbourne marked, daydreaming can be used as a temporary escape from the demands of work.

You don't have to wait for long holidays or apply for leave permits to rest, wander, and have adventures. Although daydreaming is short-lived and may seem trivial, it can increase your awareness and peace.