- Be a dreamer
Day dreaming gets a bad press.
Often associated with wasting
time and being lazy, it’s a habit
we’re encouraged to grow out of
as we become adults. But, there’s
good news for all you dreamers
out there – research shows that
letting the mind meander can
be extremely beneficial for your
wellbeing and productivity. In fact,
studies from the University of
Central Lancashire have found
that, far from being a distraction,
daydreaming can help you
become more creative.
When you’re in a state of
‘passive boredom’ (you drift off in
a dull meeting, for instance) and
your mind wanders, the brain
recruits complex areas – including
the region associated with
problem solving – and switches to
creative mode and lateral thinking.
‘Mind drifting increases creative
connections in the brain,’ says
Tucker. ‘There are benefits to be
had from whiling away the day,
including helping to improve
memory and attention span.’ By
taking a mini brain break from atask, your unconscious mind is
free to become active, recollecting
past memories or projecting into
the future, exploring ideas and
bringing gathered information
together to form new ideas and
creative solutions, explains Tucker.
Daydreaming is also proven to
help lower blood pressure, reduce
anxiety and relieve stress, letting
you become happier and healthier.
So what are you waiting for, find
that hammock and drift away!TRY THIS
lOn a train or bus journey,
resist reading your phone or the
newspaper. Instead, let your mind
happily drift away.
lDo the ironing or washing up
without the radio or TV on. Yes, it’s
boring – but that’s the point! You’ll
be surprised how quickly the task
passes – in a daydream state your
sense of time is less acute.
lIf you’re in a job that over
stimulates you, try self-hypnosis.
Lie down, close your eyes, relax
your muscles, then allow your
mind to wander for 10 minutes.- Raise
your gaze
Clouds are one of nature’s greatest
wonders, and cloudwatching is
the perfect antidote to our digitally-
dominated life. Lying on your back and
gazing up at the sky is a wonderful
way to reconnect with nature, feed your
imagination and restore your soul.
Taking time out to marvel at how
clouds constantly change and form can
help put life’s problems in perspective
and lift your spirits. ‘Gazing up at the
sky will fill you with awe and wonder,’
says Tucker. ‘You’ll be humbled at the
sheer beauty of the constantly moving
shapes that filter the light and shift the
colours.’ Sometimes rolling and fluffy,
sometimes wispy and ethereal, other
times brooding and melancholy, clouds
reflect our changing moods and
feelings. ‘Contemplating the why, the
how, the where do they go is endlessly
fascinating,’ says Tucker.
Watching clouds drift across the sky
is also a natural form of mindfulness,
helping you connect with the moment
and let worries fall away. Try detecting
characters, or observing the different
shapes of cloud you can spot. Or
use cloud watching as a meditation,
using the sky as your focal point, as youwould use a flame to focus your gaze.
Just as thoughts pass across your
mind, so the clouds pass by. It’s a
reminder that nothing is permanent
and we only exist in the moment.TRY THIS
lLie on your back on a blanket.
lClose your eyes, take a few deep
breaths, let your breath slow down.
lConsciously relax each body part,
allowing your muscles to soften.
lOpen your eyes, still relaxing, as you
watch the clouds pass by, becoming
aware of the vastness of the sky.
lIf thoughts arise, let them drift on,
just like the clouds.SUMMER
wellbeing