Daydreaming sometimes gets a bad rep, since some people see it as a waste of time. When you have 20 minutes of downtime, shouldn't you be using it more productively? Studies show that daydreaming actually is productive. It has the power to help you be more creative and even motivate you to achieve your goals. So go ahead and give yourself permission to make daydreaming part of your day.   A study conducted at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that daydreamers did 41 percent better on tests measuring creative thinking than people who didn't daydream.  On the other hand, when you let your mind wander away from the present to fantasies that will probably never come true, like wishing you would win the lottery, daydreaming can actually make you feel less happy. Studies seem to indicate that focusing on the present moment leads to greater happiness, so try not to let your daydreaming turn into escapism. Daydreaming, like dreaming at night, is best done when you're in a relatively peaceful environment without a lot of pulls on your attention. Before you start a daydreaming session, try to create a quiet, relaxing atmosphere for yourself, even if you only have a few minutes to spare. This can be done anywhere, anytime, whether you're at home or out and about during your day.  If you can, find a quiet spot in which to daydream, like an empty room or even the bathroom. If you want to daydream in a public place, wearing headphones is a good way to quiet your world enough to let your mind wander. But make sure you pay a little attention to the outside world every now and again. Before you daydream, make sure you aren't hungry, thirsty or otherwise in need of something that could distract you from your daydream. Listening to music can help tune out other distractions and also make the daydream even better, as music is full of emotion. Just pick songs that fit the mood of the dream you are having. Everyone's "daydreaming face" is a little different. Some people find it easy to let their minds wander while gazing out a window or staring into space, while others prefer to close their eyes. Do whatever helps you feel most relaxed and able to think without getting too distracted. There are several types of daydreams, and they don't all have a positive effect on your mind and mood. If you let your mind get consumed by negative thoughts (like, say, taking revenge on your ex) you end up dragging you down. But the great thing about daydreaming is that you can control your thoughts (it's a lot easier than the nighttime corollary,  lucid dreaming to make sure that each daydreaming session leaves you feeling uplifted.  Positive-constructive daydreaming is linked with openness to new experiences, happiness and creativity.  On the other hand, guilty-dysphoric daydreaming, like fantasizing about failure, bad things happening or hurting others, leads to negative emotions like anxiety and guilt. The third type of daydreaming happens when you have poor attention control; your mind wanders all over the place because you have difficulty paying attention to the present. This type of daydreaming doesn't have a positive effect since it's not under your control. If you find you that you struggle paying attention to the present moment so much that it impacts your daily life, consider speaking with a mental health professional.
أعطِ لنفسك الإذن. جِد منطقة هادئة إن أمكن لكي تحلم فيها، كغرفة فارغة أو حتى حمّام. حدّق في الخارج من خلال نافذة أو أغلق عينيك. أحلام اليقظة الإيجابية البنّاءة مرتبطة بالانفتاح على التجارب الجديدة والسعادة والإبداع.