Daydreamer

As the ending credits of one of my favorite movies of all time, "This is Spinal Tap" roll by, lead character David St. Hubbins is asked what he would be, if he couldn't make rock 'n' roll music.
He answered, "I'd be a full-time dreamer".

What a clever man he was!

How important is it to daydream? Sometimes, we refer to it as 'zoning out' or 'spacing out', as if we can somehow switch our brains off for a minutes and just veg. Nothing could be father from the truth.

Everyone I know is a multi-tasker, whether they like it or not. I am too. I am not good at it, though, despite the fact women around the world claim it's like a natural ability. As soon as I try to do two things at once, something usually ends up burning. But, this doesn't mean multi-tasking is an option. It's a requirement, actually, because I am a human being. And if you think you aren't a multi-tasker, well I got news - you are one too.

So, like me, you probably think you deserve a bit of vegging out now and then. (I know I do, and I may be even more deserving because I am a Mom.) Sometimes, especially when kids are hungry and tired and whining in my face, I long for that moment, when I can just flop on the couch, let my hair down, my belly hang and my mind wander.

Admittedly, there is a certain amount of guilt attached to the activity of daydreaming. During any given 'space-out' moment, I can hear my daughter saying, 'Mamaaaaaa.... why are doin' nothing?!' Or, out of the corner of my eye, I see my husband taking out the trash or fixing the roof or otherwise laboring his ass off, and although he won't say it, he's probably thinking, 'Some wife I married...(mutter mutter)“

But guess what again! I am officially the bearer of good news, because I can tell you, daydreaming is good for you.

“Mind wandering is typically associated with negative things like laziness or inattentiveness,” says lead author, Prof. Kalina Christoff, UBC Dept. of Psychology. “But this study shows our brains are very active when we daydream – much more active than when we focus on routine tasks.

The quantity and quality of brain activity suggests that people struggling to solve complicated problems might be better off switching to a simpler task and letting their mind wander. "

And, if scientists tell me something is better for me, then by golly, I'm gonna do it.

If you need me, I'll be in the hammock, exercising my brain while sipping on a mojito.