Wondering & Wandering
I have always wondered why my mind is always drifting and daydreaming, and why I love to think about other things when I should be focusing on something else. In simple terms, it is Mind Wandering.
In Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, he explains how we as a society almost always have some sort of mental stimulation or as he calls it, “a tornado of mental stimulation”. Personally I can relate as I am almost always looking at a screen or listening to something. However, sometimes I enjoy looking and listening to nothing and letting my mind wander.
“It was only when he turned off the spotlight of his focus, and let his mind wander on its own, that he could connect the pieces and finally solve the problem.” (Hari 94)
Hari explains how mind wandering is how our brain slowly makes sense of the world by making connections and finding patterns. Sometimes turning off our sense of focus gives our mind time to drift and be creative. Personally, when I take a break from focusing and go on a walk or just take some deep breaths, I feel a sort of mental reset, where I am able to look at my work differently, almost from a new perspective.
“The more you let your mind wander, the better you are at having organized, personal goals, being creative, and making patient, long-term decisions. You will be able to do these things better if you let your mind drift, and slowly, unconsciously, make sense of your life.” (Hari 97)
This concept is really interesting to me since mind wandering can often boost creativity and calmness, I feel it can also do the opposite. When our mind wanders it can often be about stressful things such as our unresolved goals, personal worries or current concerns (Zedelius 365). Often viewed as our automatic way of thinking, we are triggered by specific cues reminding us of such stressors or things happening in our life. The balance of stress and calm, helps our brains sort and organize our thoughts and have a stronger sense of creative problem solving.
Due to my personal experiences with mind wandering, reading is particularly challenging for me. However, many people in today’s society struggle to focus on reading, especially in an active manner. With the increase of digital screens, we read all the time, but in a much different way than with physical paper books (Harrris) . We skim the screens for the necessary information instead of reading each page slowly to absorb the text thoroughly.
Furthermore, when reading deeply, we have the ability to slow down and think/focus deeply. Active reading helps us engage with not only the text but reflect on our own life and experiences (Harris). Focusing on one emotion at a time, Hari shares how reading can make you more empathetic and understand the world around you.
“If I were a Dr., I’d prescribe books. They can be just as powerful as drugs.” (Harris 9)
Harris claims that books can help you through any illness, as a sense of support, reflection and connection. Personally, as I mentioned before I have never been much of a reader. Yet, reading intrigues me, especially after reading about the significance. I think I will try to read more for pleasure rather than solely for my schoolwork. Although I am sure my attention span is quite small and I will be distracted at first, I am curious if I will feel relaxed during my time reading. I look forward to finding out!
Hari, Johann. Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention–and How to Think Deeply Again. Crown, 2022.
Harris, Michael. “I Have Forgotten How to Read.” The Globe and Mail, The Globe and Mail, 9 Feb. 2018, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/i-have-forgotten-how-toread/article37921379/.
Zedelius, Claire M., et al. “Mind Wandering: More than a Bad Habit.” Labs.Psych.Ucsb.Edu, labs.psych.ucsb.edu/schooler/jonathan/sites/labs.psych.ucsb.edu.schooler.jonathan/files/pubs/202._mind_wandering.pdf. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.
Hey, I’m Ashley!
I am a graphic & interactive designer passionate about creating purposeful, fun, and engaging design. Whether it’s a brand identity, a responsive website, or a social media campaign, I love connecting ideas with strategy to make work that’s not only beautiful, but effective.
