Topic 3 Benefits of daydreaming

Why is daydreaming classically seen as not beneficial?

• If mind wandering is observed by a third party and costs are measured against externally imposed standards such as speed or accuracy of processing, reading fluency or comprehension, sustained attention, and other external metrics, then daydreaming is seen as even a cognitive failure

However, we all do it…

How can we change this perspective?

• Mind wandering offers the possibility of very real, personal reward

• These rewards include self-awareness, creative incubation, improvisation and evaluation, memory consolidation, autobiographical planning, goal driven thought, future planning, retrieval of deeply personal memories, reflective consideration of the meaning of events and experiences, simulating the perspective of another person, evaluating the implications of self and others’ emotional reactions, moral reasoning, and reflective compassion