Rotrou, Jean

Tema: Justiça
A justiça é muitas vezes a máscara da irritação

via @notiun

Fabre D\'Olivet, A.

Sucede com a felicidade o mesmo que sucede com o horizonte; acha-se sempre à nossa vista e nunca ao nosso alcance

@notiun

Lispector, Clarice

Tem sentido correr tanto atrás da felicidade, será que basta ser feliz? Será que ser feliz é um estado de tolerância?

@notiun

Salinger, J. D.

A principal diferença entre a felicidade e a alegria é que a felicidade é sólida e a alegria é líquida

@notiun

Martins, José Luís Nunes

Tema: Alegria
As alegrias são apenas metade da felicidade.

via @notiun

Ferreira, Vergílio

Tema: Lei
As leis criam-se, como sabemos, segundo aquilo que nos interessa. Mas aquilo que nos interessa, como sabemos também, adianta-se sobre as leis. E então é preciso criar outras

via @notiun

Sofocleto

Tema: Saber
O saber é a parte mais considerável da felicidade

via @notiun

Frederico II

Tema: Religião
Todas as religiões se equivalem, contanto que sejam boas as pessoas que as professam

via @notiun

Coleridge, Samuel

Tema: Imaginação
Na verdade, a imaginação não passa de um modo da memória, emancipado da ordem do tempo e do espaço

via @notiun

Silva, Agostinho

Amar alguém ou alguma coisa é primacialmente instalá-lo num clima de plena liberdade, com todos os riscos que a liberdade comporta: desejar é limitar na liberdade; a nós e aos outros

via @notiun

Bacon, Francis

O amor tem todos os encantos de uma sereia e os transportes de uma fúria

via @notiun

Benni, Stefano

Triste é o homem que só ama as coisas quando as perde

via @notiun

A dream written down with a date becomes a goal….

A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true. – Greg S. Reid

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9 Killer Productivity Lifehacks to Supercharge Your Success Rate

“Productivity is being able to do things that you weren’t able to do before.” – Franz Kafka

Without productivity, you can’t accomplish anything. Or your results will be very lower than your true potential.

Productivity is the quality of creating something. Productivity is measured by the positive outcome of the energy you devote in a project.

The higher it is the more you can achieve. When your productivity is sky-high you can distribute your work and finish it in the best way possible, thereby achieving more goals and getting bigger rewards for your work.

Unfortunately, your productivity is highly threatened by many enemies.

These enemies can be very destructive and if you let them affect your productivity you jeopardize your success. You risk of not getting your work done, losing deadlines or even worse surrendering without even trying.

We all have the same 24 hours every day. The way we use these 24 hours is up to every one of us.

If you find the right methods, the right productivity lifehacks, you can take advantage of these 24 hours to the utmost.

The scope of this article is to give you 9 really powerful productivity lifehacks that will help you become a repetitive winner.

You probably won’t be able to implement every technique because it depends on your every day schedule. I hope that you will find some tips among the list that suit your lifestyle. The more of these tips you follow, the better for your productivity.

1. Enter the 2 Hour Hermit Mode

What is the 2 hour hermit mode? Will you need to live alone in a remote cabin? Of course not, unless you would enjoy that experience.

What you have to do is simpler than that.

For 2 hours every day, focus on your work and try to do what you have to do completely undisturbed. Lock yourself in your room, in the bathroom or even in the garage. Stay somewhere where you can find COMPLETE quiet for 2 hours.

It doesn’t matter if your mom is calling you endlessly, if your girlfriend wants to meet you or if your house is on fire. You have to be completely alone and focused on your craft.

Find a place where no one will disturb you. Absolutely nobody. Even if the God wants to talk to you, he will have to wait until the 2 hours are over.

That’s how important it is to be completely undisturbed. If you are working on something important and then you answer a phone call you are done. Adios productivity.

You lose all your momentum. Your brain takes a big break and gives a signal to your body that you should rest more.

How to enter the hermit mode:

1. Simply close your phone or put it in airplane mode. Answer any calls or messages after the 2 hours.

2. Logout from all social media.

3. If you live with your parents or roommate tell them to be quiet for these 2 hours and lock yourself in your room.

4. If you can’t find a quiet place, consider going to your local library.

5. Have some water or snack next to you for when you are thirsty or hungry. Going to the bathroom is acceptable; you don’t want to smell like urine…or something worst than urine.

If your schedule is too demanding, it doesn’t necessarily need to be 2 hours. You can spend 60 minutes or even 30 minutes. If what you want to do is important, you will find some time.

Otherwise, it wasn’t so important. On the other side, if your schedule is too loose, you could definitely enter the hermit mode for more than 2 hours.

2. Close Your Phone until as Late as Possible

When you are working on something, whether this is just your homework or an important business plan, hearing your phone ringing can really destroy your concentration. By putting your phone in silence mode or even better closing it you have the oportunity to work uninterrupted.

Just like with the hermit mode, you reduce interruptions and you can be more focused on your craft.

3. Focus on One Task at a Time

Multi-tasking can reduce your productivity up to 40%, according to behavioral psychologist Susan Weinschenk.

According to Susan, people can’t do more than one task at a time. Actually, multi-tasking is just switching between different tasks.

It’s impossible to do them all together so your brain focuses to one of them and quickly changes that focus to another task.

If you think that this helps in getting more things done, you should know that it actually takes MORE time than if you did each task separately.

Your brain can focus on only one cognitive (mental) task. You can only be reading or you can only be watching the news, but you aren’t able to do both together.

What actually happens when you are trying to watch the news and read simultaneously is that your brain switches from the one task to the other. So you are not multitasking at all. You are just switching tasks and produce LESS.

If you want to keep your productivity levels high stop switching between tasks. Do one thing at a time and prioritize your work. Then do the most important tasks first.

4. Start Your Day Doing What You Hate

Okay, this doesn’t sound really great, I know. Just let me explain.

When we have to do something boring or an unpleasant task, we tend to procrastinate. As a result, we push that task later in the day and in the end we don’t do it at all.

We continue saying “I will do that later” or “I will finish tomorrow” and this later/tomorrow never really comes.

Just do it right after you wake up or within 1-2 hours after waking up. That way you are sure that you won’t procrastinate during the day. It also helps in increasing your self-confidence.

When you say that “I will do this,” and you really do it, you send a subconscious signal to your mind that you are a person who keeps their promises. Someone who is reliable. This results in feeling more confident with yourself.

5. Split your work with the 25-5 method.

This method can be a part of the Hermit Mode and boost your concentration to the maximum.

The idea is that you split your work into two parts. The first part is 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. The second part is a 5-7 minute break for water, snack or just for flexing your muscles and walking around.

Use a timer with an alarm clock that reminds you when your 25 minute work period or your 5 minute break is over.

This is very effective if you plan on entering the hermit mode for very long periods, like 4+ hours. Even for 2 hours it can be very effective, because your brain will get tired after a while.

On the one hand, knowing that you have to be fully concentrated until your alarm rings makes you become ultra-productive and you get more work done. On the other hand, you have 5 minutes to give your brain enough time to relax but without relaxing too much.

Don’t make the mistake of logging into social media or answering your phone during your breaks because it can turn your 5 minute break into a 50 minute one. 

6. Listen to Audio books or Podcasts While You Are Eating.

Your meals are a perfect chance to supply your body with essential nutrients and become a little smarter simultaneously.

While most people spend their meals watching TV or just staring at their kitchen wall, you can differentiate yourself from the thought-castrated masses and use that time to educate yourself.

Of course, if you choose a book/podcast that you don’t like just because I told you to do so, it won’t work. Find something that you love to learn.

You have countless topics that you could choose from like:

• How to improve your self-confidence.
• How to lose fat effectively.
• How to meet beautiful women.
• How to build muscle.
• How to improve your memory.
• How to make money.

and much more.

You don’t have to start listening to audio books of Nietzsche or Freud from the beginning. Find something that you want to learn, something that would be enjoyable and could improve your life.

But you may be wondering: is listening to audio books going to make me smarter? Does it have the same effect like reading a real book? It seems that it depends on the subject of the book but generally it has the same effect. A study on college students in 1997 found that those who listened to a short story could write a summary as well as those who read it.

7. Use Dead Time to Read or Learn Something New

When it comes to productivity and accomplishing your goals you must learn new things constantly.

It’s impossible to achieve a goal if you are not improving yourself. If you are not taking a step closer to that goal every single day then it won’t work.

You might say that you don’t have enough time. But the fact is that many of us have a lot of time that is wasted.

What did you do the last time you took the bus?

What did you do when you were waiting for a visit to your doctor while you were sitting on his comfortable couch?

What did you do when you took your car and went to work?

Most likely, you were just waiting the time to pass, you were scrolling your Facebook timeline, constantly checking your e-mail, listened to music or just staring out of the window.

But you were wasting time that you could use to learn something. Start reading e-books on your phone or listen to an audiobook/podcast during such “dead time.”

If you are on the bus and you have 30 minutes ahead of you, don’t let them pass away. Read a book and become a little smarter. If you are driving, then listen to an audio.

You can’t imagine the difference in your mindset after a year if you started to listen to audiobooks every day for 30 minutes while you are driving to your work.

Start now, you can find audiobooks or e-books for dirt cheap online. And you can listen to podcasts that are completely free.

8. Use the 3 Color Layer Checklist Method

That’s something I recommend in my e-book Beat Procrastination in 10 Minutes.

Traditional checklists are boring.  However, the 3-color layer checklist is more unique. It’s a great way to be more productive and get important tasks done all the time.

Why? Because you prioritize your tasks based on importance. All you need is a piece of  paper and 3 colored pens. I prefer using red-black-blue.

Then you split your work:

Level 1-Red: Top priority-Emergency work that must be done today.

Level 2-Black: Medium priority

Level 3-Blue: Low Priority

When the day is over you must have done all tasks in the first 2 levels. But there is a rule: For every task on level-3 you must have two tasks on levels 1 & 2.

This ensures that you don’t put all the work in the low priority layer to avoid it.

For example, if you have two tasks on the blue layer, you must have two on black and two on red or 3 on red and 1 black. The ratio should be 2:1, Red & Black to Blue.

This system will allow you to become more focused by learning to identify and finish the important tasks first. You will always have the important work done and if you have time you can finish the low priority tasks as well.

9. Start Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting will allow you to burn more fat while eating less and saving time. Actually you won’t eat less food but you will eat fewer meals.

That’s because you will skip your breakfast. While common wisdom says that you should eat a large bowl of cereal to “activate your metabolism” this doesn’t provide any benefits. Eating makes your body spend energy to digest the food.This is known as the Thermic Effect. However, increased meal frequency doesn’t add any benefit as the thermic effect in 24 hours remains the same if you eat the same amount of calories, no matter if you consume these calories in 3 or in 6 meals.[3]

The food industry has invested millions of dollars to convince us that breakfast is essential. Eat pancakes, muffins, milk, cake and cereals because your body will enter in starvation mode if you don’t. That’s what they told us and we believed it.

In fact, skipping breakfast not only helps you to burn more fat but it has other benefits like increased growth hormone and boosted mental alertness.

But what has this to do with productivity?

When you skip breakfast you eat only 2-3 meals per day. Lunch and dinner are fine, but you can have an extra smaller meal in between.

This saves you a lot of time from breakfast preparation and gives you the ability to enjoy huge meals without getting fat. Or eating a dessert (wink).

In reality, you take the breakfast calories and put them in your dinner or lunch.

Generally speaking, you shouldn’t only skip breakfast but you should also cut your meals quantity. There is no need in having 5-6 small meals per day “because this activates your metabolism.”

Whether your goal is building muscle, losing fat or maintaining your weight, it’s all a matter of how much calories you eat and if you get the right quantity of nutrients. You can achieve that only with 2-3 meals per day.

It will save you a ton of time from cooking, eating and even spending energy to digest the food.

What are your best methods to improve your productivity? I would love to hear to your ideas.

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10 Ancient Books That Can Inspire You Even Today

In this day and age, many people feel lost. They don’t know in what direction their life should be headed, how to overcome the different challenges that life throws at them, or just how to be relaxed and happy. Oftentimes they try to find outside sources to help them in this. The self-help industry is worth billions of dollars and keeps on growing.

Many people spend huge sums of money to try to get answers to their questions. They often don’t know which advice to choose and how to proceed with changing things that need changing.

If you really want to get to the core of self-improvement, happiness and success, it is time to get back to the basics. A wise man once said, that whatever question people have today, a wise man from thousands of years ago had already provided the answer.

The people of yesteryear lived hard, and challenging lives, but that did not stop them from working on improving themselves, achieving their goals and enjoying the little things.

Whatever question you might have, whatever challenge you are trying to overcome, the answer can most likely be found in the one of the books below. Best of all, all of them can be found totally free on the internet.

1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of the Roman Empire at a time when the pressure from the barbarians in the North was growing stronger. He spent much of his reign on campaign. Yet he was also a philosopher driven on improving himself and living life as a good person.

As a way to drive his own self-improvement, he started writing a journal for himself. This is what later became the “Meditations”.

This books contains different quotations of things he was thinking about, different reflections, worries, challenges, snippets of wisdom. He had to face and overcome many challenges in his life and this book contains a summary of what he learned on the way. It can serve as a good source of inspiration for you in the modern world, since many of the challenges were of internal nature. You are most likely facing the same challenges today. If you want answers to common everyday problems, this book provides them.

quote:
“Never regard something as doing you good if it makes you betray a trust or lose your sense of shame or makes you show hatred, suspicion, ill-will or hypocrisy or a desire for things best done behind closed doors.”

2. Enchiridion of Epictetus (compiled by Arrian, a disciple of Epictetus)

Epictetus is considered one of the greatest Stoic philosophers of the ancient world. He was a Greek who lived during the time of the Roman Empire and his teachings inspired countless people to live a life of balance.

His sayings were compiled by Arrian, one of his disciplies, in order to serve as sources of wisdom for all the generations to come. One of the basic tenets of Stoic philosophy is to focus on things that you can change and not worry about the rest and this little book teaches how to do that. The advice it gives can serve as useful guide for people struggling in a world of instant gratification and temptation.

quote:
“When you imagine some pleasure, beware that it does not carry you away, like other imaginations. Wait a while, and give yourself pause. Next remember two things: how long you will enjoy the pleasure, and also how long you will afterwards repent and revile yourself. And set on the other side the joy and self-satisfaction you will feel if you refrain. And if the moment seems come to realize it, take heed that you be not overcome by the winning sweetness and attraction of it; set in the other scale the thought how much better is the consciousness of having vanquished it.“

3. Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle

Aristotle is considered one of the greatest philosophers of the ancient world and one of his greatest most enduring works is the Nichomachean Ethics. It is a hard read, but those who finish it are rewarded with a different perspective on things, most notably on what is happiness.

How will you achieve happiness according to Aristotle? By being a good person, for only a virtuous person can truly be happy.

quote:
“The pleasures arising from thinking and learning will make us think and learn all the more.”

4. Art of War by Sun Tzu

One of the most well-known works from Ancient China is the Art of War, compiled by Sun Tzu. It was originally meant as a guide for generals, teaching them how to win battles and wars, but in the modern world, it has been used in different contexts, for example in the business world. It contains much practical wisdom on what types of tactics to use in order to overcome challenges and can serve as an inspiration for strategy in any walk of life.

quote:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

5. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu was the founder of Taoism and the Tao Te Ching is the main source of his teachings. The book contains different types of advice for different life situations and for different types of people. It has to be read several times in order to get the full impact of the sayings and to discover how to apply them to your life.

quote:
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”

6. Parallel Lives by Plutarch

One of the best ways to become a better, more accomplished person is by learning about other great people and how they got to the top. You should adopt their virtues and discard their vices and you too can become great.

This was the main aim of the Parallel Lives by Plutarch. By writing the biographies of great Greeks and Romans and especially focusing on their traits of character, he tried to create a teaching aid for people struggling to find their own path to greatness. By studying what other great people did to become great, you can make your own path to superstardom much easier. Their lives can serve as a source of inspiration.

If you want to know what it takes to become great, this book is the one you should turn to.

quote:
“It is not reasonable that he who does not shoot should hit the mark, nor that he who does not stand fast at his post should win the day, or that the helpless man should succeed or the coward prosper.“

7. The Art of Love by Ovid

Since time immemorial guys struggled with one thing: how to get the girl. Two thousand years ago, one man came with the answer. Ovid, a Roman poet, wrote a very detailed manual on how to pick up girls, what to say and what to do. It became such a best-seller, that it angered the more traditional authorities, which had Ovid banned from the city of Rome and sent into exile.

The book is divided into 3 parts, with the first two books giving very practical advice to guys on how to find, seduce and keep a woman, while book 3 reverses the tables and gives advice to women on how to find a guy. The Art of Love proved such a success, that Ovid even wrote a sequel, which dealt with how to fall out of love and mend a broken heart.

quote:
“If you want to be loved, be lovable.“

8. On the Orator by Cicero

Cicero is considered one of the greatest statesmen and orators of the Roman Republic. Giving speeches was his life and he became very good at it. Speaking in public and generally having conversations is a thing that is still a need for many in today’s world. Cicero wrote one of the greatest manuals on this ever. His advice on how to deliver a speech, move your audience and convince them of your truth is still as pertinent today as it was over two thousand years ago.

If you don’t know how to efficiently engage in conversation or if you need to give speeches, pick up his book as soon as possible.

quote:
“Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.“

9. Anabasis by Xenophon

During the height of the Persian Empire, one pretender for the Persian throne hired a group of ten thousand Greek mercenaries and marched them to the territory of modern Iraq to confront his brother, the ruler, and try to overthrow him from the throne. However, he died in the ensuing battle, meaning that the Greek troops were now stuck thousands of miles from home, in enemy territory, with no supplies and no friends.

This was the beginning of one of the greatest adventures and stories of courage ever told. Xenophon was one of the participants in the expedition and one of the commanders of the retreat. The troops marched thousands of miles, battling enemies left and right, to finally make it home. The truth is sometimes stranger and more powerful than fiction and this story qualifies. Pick up the book, if you want to read a riveting story full of adventure and one that can inspire you to overcome obstacles that you think are insurmountable.

10. Analects of Confucius (compiled by his disciples)

Confucius is the person who arguably had the greatest effect on the evolution of Chinese society out of anyone. Much of his wisdom is compiled in a book called the Analects. There you have a collection of sayings of this great teacher and philosopher. This book is considered one of the central tenets of Confucianism and can serve as a great source of practical wisdom for many situations.

quote:
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

Featured photo credit: Man Jumping In Old Temple Ruins/Ed Gregory via stokpic.com

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Never run back to what broke you.

Never run back to what broke you.

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9 Ways to Donate to Nepalese Earthquake Victims

It’s been more than a month since a series of earthquakes devastated Nepal and killed more than 8,500 people. With thousands more homeless and various organizations working to stabilize the country, the need for resources is great. Already, Nepal is starting to fade from headlines but help is still badly needed.

Here are nine well-regarded organizations you can donate to in order to make a difference and help relief efforts.

1. Global Giving

Global Giving is a fundraising platform that is helping to support Nepal. They’re close to reaching their goal of raising $5 million, which will first provide food, clean water and other emergency supplies to survivors.

Once the situation stabilizes, Global Giving will partner with local organizations to help long-term recovery. Make a donation and read about Global Giving’s mission on their fundraising page.

2. Friends Service Council Nepal

Friends Service Council Nepal works exclusively in Nepal. The organization already had boots on the ground to distribute much-needed aid in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes. It’s a small, nimble organization. Currently, donations are only accepted through wire transfer.

3. Red Cross

Few organizations match the scope and size of the Red Cross. They’ve committed more than $9 million to Nepalese earthquake victims so far and have mobilized 7,000 staff and volunteers to help.

With so many hard-to-reach towns devastated by the earthquake, one unique way the Red Cross is helping is by having volunteers assist in mapping the country digitally. Find out more about the Red Cross’s efforts on the Nepal section of their website.

4. Save the Children

Save the Children has been in Nepal since 1976 and is very familiar with the challenges facing the country. They now have 400 staff members in the country and have 44 tons of aid to help the victims. Contribute to their mission and know that 10 percent of your donation will be used to help in potential future disasters.

5. Oxfam International

Oxfam International has delivered clean water to 30,000 people on a weekly basis since the earthquakes hit. They acknowledge, however, that the need is far greater than that.

With blocked roads and other logistical challenges, Oxfam aims to help 400,000 people throughout the country. Contribute to their efforts in Nepal, today.

6. Direct Relief

Direct Relief lives up to its name by providing medical supplies to areas in need. They are particularly effective because they partner with local governments and long-established NGOs on the ground who know exactly what’s needed and how to make an immediate impact.

So far, Direct Relief has delivered 119,000 pounds of medical supplies to Nepal. They have a news page providing timely updates about new relief efforts within the country.

7. Room to Read

Room to Read, a nonprofit dedicated to providing an education to those who need it most, was formed in Nepal in 2000. Since then, they’ve helped build nearly 4,000 libraries and more than 1,000 schools.

Now the organization is ramping up efforts to bring much-need aid to the country. Donate to Room to Read via this form or through a third-party organization like FrontStream.

8. Action Against Hunger

With Nepal’s infrastructure devastated, Action Against Hunger is working to improve conditions and make sure the situation doesn’t worsen. They’ve provided food, temporary shelters and sanitation to some of the hardest hit parts of the country. Make a donation to Action Against Hunger’s efforts in Nepal here.

9. Giving Children Hope

Giving Children Hope allows you to help Nepalese earthquake victims in several ways: You can donate money, food or even your time as a volunteer. This nonprofit tries to give children economic independence and teach them to be self-sufficient so they can grow up in a stable environment.

Support Giving Children Hope by making a donation. More than 99% of every donation goes directly toward their charitable programs and services.

Is there another charitable organization you’ve used to help the earthquake victims in Nepal? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

Featured photo credit: Credit card/Negative Space via negativespace.co

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10 Benefits to Daydreaming!

The sound of my heels on the hard floor, I find myself on stage, my face hot and eyes slightly squinting from the bright golden lights. I’m bowing before a standing ovation given to me by a much bigger room than I expected, full of admirers. The applause is overwhelming, and pride in my presentation bubbles up through my core. A wave of gratitude washes over me as I realize that my cheeks hurt from the work of smiling, then, suddenly, I am snapped back to my living room where I am writing an article on my Mac and the little cue card that pops up in the right upper corner notifies me of another reminder I had set weeks ago. So I collect my thoughts and continue my work.

We are mostly aware of the proven benefits of taking vacations. We are repeatedly and painfully reminded that our obsession with keeping up with the Jones’ and impressing our bosses is taking its toll on our efficiency, creativity, performance, and even our health! If we insist on leaving a couple vacation days in the bank each year, however, could taking a periodic trip to la-la land also be beneficial?

Daydreaming, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a pleasant visionary usually wishful creation of the imagination,” and by that definition, it is proving to be like a mini-vacation that carries with it more than just a handful of scientifically proven benefits!

1. You can exercise your brain (not your mind)…

Neuroscientist Dr Muireann Irish says that daydreaming is hard work and serves some very important functions. The capability to remember the past and imagine the future is a very complex form of thinking—as far as we can tell, we are the only species with this remarkable ability. The way in which you daydream and think is actually the effect of your brain’s physical structure, which, in turn, is constantly changing in response to new information in the form of new neural pathways due to neuroplastisity!

2. You can give different parts of your brain a break.

There are two main systems in your brain: the decision-making analytic part and the relatable empathetic part. When you get really involved in one, there isn’t much room for the other to play. Daydreaming allows for a natural and fluid, almost cyclical movement between these two parts of your brain, turning one on and the other on and off as it imagines.

3. You may find yourself to be more creative.

A lot of creative celebrities, including Woody Allen and JK Rowling, credit daydreaming with their best ideas. This is because when you daydream, your mind travels through different parts of your brain and collects bits of information that it may then be able to connect! These connections often end up being the beginnings of new and creative ideas!

4. You can practice being more empathetic, open minded, and understanding.

Like being able to remember the past or think into the future, your ability to imagine someone else’s perspective, as far as people know so far, is unique to humans. A person spends up to half of their waking hours daydreaming. If you could practice spending just a portion of that time to contemplate what someone else might be thinking or feeling, it could change your interactions with people and create great opportunities for improved communication and connections.

5. You can feel more love and connection to the people closest to you.

Speaking of closer connections, research has shown that certain kind of daydreams—namely the “approach-oriented” social kind involving loved ones with whom you have a significant relationship—results in more “happiness, love, and connection” in relation to those people. “Approach-oriented” just means that the daydream is associated with attaining something positive instead of avoiding something negative which would be “avoidance-oriented.”

6. You will have improved working memory.

Working memory is your brain’s ability to store and then recall information in the face of distractions. Recent research out of the University of Wisconsin and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science shows a correlation between high levels of this particular kind of memory and daydreaming!

7. You will likely experience improved performance/productivity.

This correlation is probably the most proven! A Cornell study showed “improved performance” with daydreaming, and Bar-Ilan University found that “spontaneous, self-directed thoughts and associations,” how they defined daydreaming, “have a positive, simultaneous effect on task performance.”  There are even more examples that prove that the assumptions of your elementary school teachers were wrong when they thought that your little lapses in attention were detrimental.

8. You can be healthier!

Research has proven that daydreaming is kind of like a low-level self hypnosis. In doing so, you may find that you experience lower levels of stress, translating to a physiologically healthier you. Another way to lower stress with the use of daydreaming is to practice in advance. If you have a new experience coming up (perhaps a presentation at work) you can go through it in your mind and be better prepared for the actual event. That’s not all. Daydreaming is also linked with a healthier brain. Patients who suffer from autism and Alzheimer’s disease are unable to participate in this form of self hypnosis. Daydreaming can also help you sleep better, provided your dreams aren’t too structured and serious. Let your nightly mind wander to playful, wild places instead.

9. You can achieve your goals!

Between being more creative, improving your working memory, increasing performance, and lowering stress levels, it is easy to see how you can have an easier time achieving your goals with the help of daydreams. But there is research that proves this as well! When you let yourself slip off to la-la land, your brain’s problem solving network is actually more active than when you are focused on routine tasks. So set your goals, make plans to achieve them, and let your brain help you when you run into obstacles!

10. Most importantly, you can be happier!

With all of the benefits of daydreaming, it’s little surprise that you can find yourself happier by letting yourself indulge in a little mental play. Another reason for this correlation is that hope and anticipation are both strongly related to joy and tend to be byproducts of mind wandering.

Be warned that not all daydreams are created equal. To really tap into the potential benefits of your daydreams, try to free yourself from the worry or fear-based “day-mares.” We all do this, so there’s no shame. But if you catch yourself biting your nails, lost in another imagined horror plot of how your next date could go wrong, or what your boss could have meant by that statement, simply redirect your mind to more positive thoughts and let your brain take you for a joyride—creating new neural pathways along the way!

Featured photo credit: autumn leaves boy/ Philippe Put via flickr.com

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Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to…

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. – Jonathan Swift

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