How Our Minds Wander

It appears that we should head our own mantra - "Be here now." According to Psychology Today a Harvard psychologist, Daniel Gilbert, has determined that the average person spends approximately 46.9% of their time day dreaming.

No wonder we can't get anything done. Almost half of our waking hours are spent allowing our minds to wander around the block, the neighborhood, even the universe no where near the tasks we face at hand.

To be clear, Gilbert has defined "mind wandering" as a state in which we're not focused on any particular task or anything in the outside world. How easily we are lost in thoughts about ourselves, our speculations, even dreams and ideas.

Gilbert's study even indicates that our minds like to check out even when we are in the middle of a task.

Wouldn't we come closer to achieving those dreams and ideals if we disciplined our minds and reigned in our thoughts to concentrate on those things we wish to accomplish? When did we lose our focus? This study makes it appear as if we all have a touch of attention deficit disorder (ADD).

It also proves that perhaps Sigmund Freud was right on at least one account of the human mind, having said, "The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water." Even back in his day Freud must have realized the lack of mental energy that man is willing to exert not only to overcome great obstacles, but even to make it through perfunctory tasks.

It would seem, then, that the next best thing psychology could offer us is guidance on how to harness our minds and reign them in for greater efficiency of purpose and output. The question remains, however, whether psychologists themselves can remain focused enough to reach a conclusion.

Sources:
Psychology Today
The Quote Garden