Daydreaming is an important part of creativity. It frees your mind and allows that anything is possible. Once anything is possible—then you can let your creativity flow. So start with some daydream believing or do you call it fantasy?
Daydreaming is good for you. It allows your mind to connect and take apart and reconnect different things that may not even make sense in the “real world.” It allows for creation by not filtering or editing. That’s huge for an artist, but also huge for anyone. Imagine not editing or self-correcting yourself as you’re trying to come up with a solution? It also allows you to connect bits of data that you never considered together before, which in turn allows daydreaming to pave the way for that “aha” moment.
Deliberate or constructive daydreaming appears to work best. This is when you are deliberate about doing something mundane so that your mind can incubate any ideas you already have. Many artists and writers speak of major breakthroughs that happened while washing the dishes or walking the dog. They didn’t stop thinking about their piece, but it wasn’t the central thought in their mind.
The next time you’re struggling with a piece that you’re working on, take a mundane task break and start daydreaming. Wash the dishes, walk the dog, fold some laundry, dust or vacuum. Then let your mind wander and tell us what “aha” hit you.
Catch up with previous posts in this series:
How to Tap into Your Creativity Part 1
Use Your Imagination Part 2
I often find that if I’m stuck on a particular word or what direction I want something to take, a 15 min walk with an empty mind does wonders for filling in the blanks
Yes. It really has a way of shifting the cobwebs aside so you can see the path you need to take.
I do my best daydreaming while I’m running. It makes the miles fly by and totally relaxes me. Great post!
Yes. Active daydreaming. It works on so many levels.
Brilliant post. I totally agree with you; daydreaming is so vital for creative people. And just because you’re daydreaming doesn’t mean you’re not observing things either, in the real world. Paul McCartney I believe worked in this way with his own unconscious mind. He created the song “Penny Lane” by sitting on a bus day after day, observing, but also daydreaming, gazing out of the bus window.
Exactly. Daydreaming is active. It activates your brain in ways that doing other things cannot.
Daydreaming…is my life.
I love daydreaming. Though I’m not sure it ever leads me to anything constructive or any epiphanies!
Then just go and enjoy the daydream. And the next time you get an epiphany then you can thank your daydreams.
I love this. I don’t daydream enough. I write full pieces in my head instead, which isn’t as fruitful, IMO!
I think someone might have to plan in some daydreaming time!