According to a study, losing oneself in one’s thoughts or letting the mind wander is an underappreciated hobby that becomes more gratifying with practice.
Psychologists who examined a group of over 250 individuals who were encouraged to engage in directionless contemplation or free-floating thought reported that the practice was far more rewarding than the participants anticipated.
The scholars from the University of Tübingen in southern Germany wanted to determine why, despite being the only animal capable of sitting motionless and thinking alone, humans are often reluctant to utilize this ability.
According to the results of a series of trials that culminated in their study, people prefer letting their minds wander when allowed to do so, although some still find it difficult.
In addition, they proved that, as prior research has shown, losing oneself in one’s thoughts can aid in problem-solving, boost creativity and imagination, and contribute to a sense of self-worth.
Despite this, the majority of individuals are more inclined to allow themselves to be distracted as opposed to focusing on their thoughts or staring out the window.
The authors argued that smartphones have made it simpler to seek and find distractions and have led to the decline of the habit of free thought. Some individuals found it difficult to be alone with their thoughts, especially if they were inclined to be pessimistic.
The head of the study, Kou Murayama, a professor of pedagogical psychology at the University of Tübingen, stated that participants found it difficult to measure the worth of contemplation; they viewed other pursuits as more appealing – until they were encouraged to let their minds wander.
“This may explain why people prefer to be active in their daily lives as opposed to enjoying a moment of reflection or allowing their imagination run wild,” Murayama added.
This 259-participant study has been published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Participants were asked to estimate the degree to which they would enjoy 20 minutes of solitude and introspection. They were prohibited from using a smartphone, reading, and walking around.
According to the results, each participant’s satisfaction with letting their minds wander was significantly larger than anticipated.
This remained true even when the trial conditions were adjusted, such as placing participants in a sparse conference room, a dark tent, or a closet, or allowing them to sit alone for three or twenty minutes.
Sometimes they were asked to comment on how they were feeling during the sessions, and other times it was requested afterward. In every instance, however, participants reported higher satisfaction than anticipated.
