When you’re swamped every day running your business, having time to let your mind wander may seem like a luxury. But a new study suggests that letting yourself do so could help you solve problems and develop new ideas.
The research, published in the Journal of Management, found that people who allow themselves to daydream about work-related challenges are more likely to experience epiphanies, or “sudden realizations that transform how people see themselves,” the study said. The epiphanies may bring a new sense of purpose or motivation, or solutions to tough conundrums.
Entrepreneurs and others can increase their potential for a strong work-related epiphany by engaging in “problem-solving daydreaming,” a specific type of mind wandering where you mull over problems and potential solutions.
How daydreaming can bring work-related epiphanies
Epiphanies are said to have inspired many well-known success stories, including Jeff Bezos leaving a Wall Street Career to start Amazon and Sara Blakely’s frustration with undergarments that led to her creating Spanx, according to a Washington University news release about the study.
The new research involved Master in Business Administration students and alumni, as well as business school students aspiring to leadership roles. Researchers found that those who engaged in problem-solving daydreaming were more likely to experience strong work-related epiphanies.
The epiphanies were strongest among people who strive to solve problems without simple solutions. The researchers suggested that these individuals are often naturally curious and seek new knowledge. So, when their minds drift, they typically reflect on the problems in their lives, which inevitably leads to solutions.
Feeling compelled to solve problems and engaging in problem-solving daydreaming are a combo that makes people more likely to experience strong epiphanies, the study found.
When you daydream, you’re more likely to let go of assumptions—including unhelpful or outdated beliefs about yourself—and to think in flexible and innovative ways.Erik Dane, a Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Olin Business School, Washington University
Why daydreaming can help solve problems
“Mind wandering is a particularly useful way to solve problems because it redirects attention away from existing solutions and helps people engage in imaginative thinking, entertaining brand new possibilities,” Markus Baer, Vice Dean of Executive Education and Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, said in the news release.
Compared to tackling problems in a deliberate, formal way, he said, “Problem-solving daydreaming can be especially freewheeling and playful—qualities useful for solving problems.”
Problem-solving daydreaming “opens the door to experiencing strong epiphanies,” Erik Dane, a Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Olin Business School, said in the news release. “When you daydream, you’re more likely to let go of assumptions—including unhelpful or outdated beliefs about yourself—and to think in flexible and innovative ways.”
The value of taking time to daydream
Previous research has shown that positive constructive daydreaming can boost creativity. Daydreaming about meaningful and positive topics has also been shown to boost overall well-being.
Start by giving yourself permission to “reflect imaginatively” on your career or personal life, the authors of the latest study said. Then, prioritize working through any tensions or confusion you’re dealing with. A strong epiphany will often follow.
Professional workshops and individual coaching can help cultivate epiphanies, the study authors noted. They suggested that the findings should offer methods for career guidance and development programs in business schools and professional environments.
“By creating environments that encourage reflective thinking and problem-solving daydreaming, institutions can facilitate moments of profound insight among students and professionals, ultimately fostering a greater sense of purpose and direction in their careers,” Dane said in the news release.
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