Take Time to Dream

A 2009 neurological study shows that half of your thoughts are daydreams. – Time Magazine

Whoa! That simple fact from Time Magazine shocked us too. It doesn’t quite seem possible, but stick with us here. Daydreaming is the mind’s think tank. More from Time: ​​”Cognitive scientists say you have an incorrigibly distracted mind. The wandering mind is our brain’s default mode. Left to their own devices, our brains go to the beach when they’re not working on calculus or Angry Birds. See? Even now your mind wanders.”

Daydreaming (and nighttime dreaming) can be called “the mind’s incubator”. This is where we problem-solve and come up with creative solutions and ideas. In our dreams, we can find answers to personal and business problems, or simply come up with design solutions like the perfect zipper to use on a dress!

When we’re hyper-focused on a task (such as working on a spreadsheet or reading a business document), the possibility of the mind reaching into its reservoir and making an “Aha!” discovery diminishes. Conversely, when daydreaming there’s no controlling censor to whisper, “That’s ridiculous” or “Completely impractical.” And that’s where great ideas are born!

So, we’re not a bit offended that you aren’t riveted to this discussion. It’s human nature after all. Only robots can stay 100% focused on a single task for extended lengths of time. And obviously, you are not a robot.

Contrary to the admonishments of your kindergarten teacher, “Maya needs to stay focused, she has a tendency to daydream!”  Daydreaming is NOT a bad thing. In fact, if you were to do an independent poll of your creative friends and associates, you’ll probably find that the majority of them have this exact criticism on their kindergarten report cards. (Also, just asking people about it makes for a very fun discussion!)

Now that you have a good understanding of the purpose of dreaming and daydreaming, here are some tricks to harness the power of your dreams and make the most of them for you and your brand.

Keep a Nighttime Dream Journal.

Don’t trust your daytime memory when it comes to your dream life! Daytime, and its massive list of obligations and to-do’s, has a sneaky way of pushing your beneficial nighttime dreams and their amazing revelations aside. One way to harness the creative ideas that happen during your sleep is to keep a Dream Journal.

It’s a relatively simple thing to do. And you can find step-by-step instructions for doing so right here: http://www.theluciddreamsite.com/dream-journals.html

According to The Lucid Dream: “It is difficult to recall the dreaming mind when we are not in dreams. In order to get your waking mind familiar with your dreaming mind (so you can prepare for dreams while awake!), it is important to record your dreams while you have the chance to after awakening, and then to study that material and become aware of what your dreams are like.”

One of our most favorite dream discoveries is this one: A famous dream invention includes Elias Howe’s sewing machine; in a dream Howe was taken captive, and as the natives danced around him with spears in hand, he noticed the spearheads had holes near their ends – that’s it! The sewing machine was dreamt into existence. Thank you, Mr. Howe! His dream practically created our industry.

Schedule Daydreaming into your Day

As we mentioned earlier, we’ve been admonished our entire lives NOT to daydream. Well, we are here to give you permission to do so. And here’s why.

Per Quill.com, “By adding daydreaming to our schedules, we would grow closer to achieving our personal and professional goals because we would open up space for possibility.

• Daydreaming helps reduce stress. Through daydreams, we relive moments that weren’t as successful as we’d hoped. Daydreaming is an excellent way to bolster emotional readiness and to relax throughout the work day.
• Daydreaming helps boost creativity. Daydreaming doesn’t just boost inspiration, it fosters an environment for creativity where dreams become reality. Through daydreaming, we encourage the brain to visualize future scenarios or construct new methods for problem-solving. This leads to originality and promotes innovation.
• Daydreaming boosts mental agility. Mental agility equals flexibility which allows us to be more relaxed and less anxious. When our minds are flexible, we can solve problems at both work and home with more clarity and certainty.
• Daydreaming increases empathy. Daydreaming allows us to step into another person’s shoes and imagine the world from a different point of view. When we have empathy for others, we have the ability to build stronger bonds with work colleagues and others, working together with greater cooperation and understanding.

Adding time to daydream is a gift you can give yourself AND your brand. Here are some ways you can add daydreaming into your busy day:

• Daydream in moments that make sense. Obviously, you’re not going to daydream during an important meeting or phone call. Instead, factor in daydreaming when you get up to stretch. When you take a break, give your spirit the opportunity to explore uncharted areas of the subconscious.
• To enhance daydreaming, listen to sounds that evoke positivity. Some people like to sit in silence and let their mind create a soundtrack while others prefer to listen to music of their own choosing, like upbeat popular tunes, Tibetan bowls, binaural beats, or nature sounds.
• Although using the imagination is essential, scrolling through magazines or books can add extra help when our creativity isn’t sharp. Find a window in the office and gaze outside, if possible. In the face of negativity, daydreaming will uplift your soul and carry you to new heights.
• Doodling is a form of daydreaming and studies show that those who doodle are making stronger brain connections than those who don’t doodle. By doodling, the brain links new information with a personal action, doodling, which enhances memory.
• Make time for activities like yoga, art, or play with a dog or cat to increase feel good hormones. Daydreaming can be done in conjunction with activities that don’t require too much concentration. Washing the dishes, waiting in line at the grocery store, or gardening are ideal moments.

So there you have it. Dreams and daydreams are gifts from your subconscious mind. Accept them graciously and reap the benefits. Who knows? Maybe the next idea for your best collection yet is just waiting to be explored! Go ahead, dream a little dream.

We’d love to talk about your dreams for your brand. And we’re great at helping designers turn those dreams into reality. Feel free to reach out to us at https://tegintl.com/get-in-touch/ or call us at 800-916-0910.

SOURCES

https://time.com/110304/the-importance-of-daydreaming/
http://www.theluciddreamsite.com/dream-discoveries-and-inventions
https://www.quill.com/blog/lifestyle/how-to-daydream-productively-to-reduce-stress-and-foster-creativity.
https://www.ted.com/talks/sunni_brown/transcript