"We often judge habits like a drifting mind or moments of spontaneous "zoning out" as flaws. To most people, these are considered signs of poor focus, weak discipline, or even cognitive decline. However, what we often fail to factor in is that our perceptions are influenced by the culture of relentless productivity and tangible rewards that surrounds us. From this lens, these mental habits will obviously look like distractions that need to be corrected, rather than cognitive processes that simply need to be understood."
"Mind-wandering, or the drifting of attention away from the present task toward self-generated thoughts, has long been considered a telltale sign of inattention. However, recent studies show that it can also support creative thinking and cognitive flexibility. For example, a 2025 study involving more than 1,300 adults found that deliberate mind-wandering (that is, a person intentionally allowing themselves to daydream) predicted higher creative performance. Neuroimaging data suggested this effect was supported by increased connectivity between large-scale brain networks involved in executive control and"
Mind-wandering and talking to oneself are common mental habits often judged as signs of poor focus or weak discipline. Deliberate mind-wandering can predict higher creative performance and supports cognitive flexibility, with neuroimaging linking the effect to increased connectivity among large-scale brain networks that support executive control. Self-directed speech can bolster self-regulation, planning, and metacognition. Cultural ideals of relentless productivity tend to pathologize these behaviors, overlooking adaptive background cognitive work. A nuanced approach recognizes that drifting attention and inner speech can contribute to problem solving and mental adaptability.
Read at Psychology Today
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