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Daydream believer: why your brain is wired to wander
Daydreaming Is Not A Waste Of Time
Contrary to popular belief, daydreaming is actually an evolutionary trait specific to human beings which harnesses our creative power and enables us to function in an effective manner.
Research shows that a creative distraction like daydreams loosens us form our never-ending stream of thoughts and provides possible solutions to our problems, while enhancing our sense of identity.
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Key Ideas
Memorizing new material
When we try to memorize new information, we assume that the more work we put in, the better we will do.
But, our memory for new information is the most fragile just after it has first been en...
Take some downtime
Aiming for minimal interference - to do literally nothing - is the best way to consolidate the facts and remember it better.
Research found that short periods of rest increased the ability to recall information up to 30 % in healthy individuals. For people with neurological injury, such as a stroke, the ability to recall after some rest, places them almost within the range of healthy people.
We remember better after rest
When memories are initially encoded, they pass through a period of consolidation that cements them in long-term storage.
It was once thought to happen mostly during sleep; studies have found that it is not limited to sleep, because it happens during periods of wakeful rest, too.
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Key Ideas
Pain: The Unwanted Discomfort
- Pain, whether emotional or physical is practically unavoidable in the entire human existence. Drugs may blunt it to an extent (with severe side-effects), but we all dread pain and wish it wa...
Not Being Able To Feel Pain
Congenital Insensitivity To Pain (CIP) is a rare genetic condition in which a person does not feel any pain, with no warning signs of ‘hurt’ being registered in the brain even after the body gets injured or damaged.
No one with this condition survived till adulthood due to them not able to act on the(unfelt) pain, which could have saved their lives.
Pain Is Multi-Dimensional
The very concept of pain, where it locates and provides the severity of the problem, is an extremely important part of the human body mechanism, as it operates on various dimensions.
As soon as we touch a hot pan (thermal), our hand is located by the brain, along with the intensity, which is extremely unpleasant and diverts your thoughts towards it, demanding full attention (cognition), making us feel unhappy (emotional).
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Taking good breaks
This is important for your daily productivity. Good breaks can leave us feeling refreshed and energized. It can reduce mental fatigue, boost brain function and keep us on-task for extended periods....
The brain and goal management
The prefrontal cortex of the brain is mainly responsible for goal management. It orchestrates attention, working memory and other cognitive resources to help us get what we want.
For a challenging task, briefly taking our minds off the goal can renew and strengthen motivation. Doing activities that rely on different brain regions is best to restore focus.
Going Natural
Exposure to nature restores the mind. One study showed better working memory scores for people after a walk in a natural environment, but not in an urban setting.
If you are unable to go into nature, find plants, fresh air or a fish tank. Sit down, take a deep breath, and notice the details of nature. Research shows that even looking at some pictures of nature can work.