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Why You Should Keep Daydreaming
Daydreaming has always had a negative stigma attached to it. Frequent daydreamers are told to “get their head out of the clouds,” and, “pay attention,” and, “join the rest of us in reality.”
I know this because these were the phrases I heard from almost every adult in my life. At parent-teacher conferences, my teachers would tell my parents that I had a lot of potential, but my daydreaming issues were holding me back. “She just needs to get her head out of the clouds,” they said, “She’s not paying as much attention as she should.”
Although I tried my best to stay grounded in reality, I’m not sure I’ve ever completely floated back down to earth. Even in adulthood, I find myself daydreaming several times a day — when I’m working, when I’m driving, and when my friends start talking about politics.
I know I’m not alone in this. For many of us, daydreaming has always been painted as a bad habit we need to kick. However, psychological evidence is saying something different. As it turns out, daydreaming can actually be good for us.