Do Something Today: Daydream

A decent coaching session takes about an hour, 90 minutes if we’re digging deep. Sometimes, though, you just need a quick tipand a reminder that you’re not alone to get you back on track. This one is simple, life-affirming, and entirely under-rated.

But that’s not a productive use of time, you say? Pshah! You are mistaken, I reply. Back in late September / early October, I started assigning bouts of daydreaming to my clients and fellow writers + creatives across the board, especially those who were stuck.

The results have been exciting.

Daydreaming has unlocked more stagnant creativity than anyone who tried it anticipated. Not only that, I am getting reports of increases in overall feelings of well-being and an almost universal return to a delight in the work of writing. Let’s face it, this year has been a slog. Finding delight in anything is a huge bonus.

Who has time to daydream? Um, hello. You do. One of my favorite people – who happens to have small children at home — practically made it her job the first time. She chose to daydream in a hammock, phone out of reach and out of earshot inside the house, for a delicious hour of me-time under the spreading boughs of an ancient tree. Another favorite person daydreams while doing dishes and otherwise mind-numbing household tasks. And yet another squeezes it in while she supervises distance learning; she doodles to keep her mind on her own thoughts.

When do I daydream? On the road. Twice a week, I find myself driving for a solid hour. I used to either let my mind wander aimlessly or obsess over appreciating every precious moment of solitude like a gold-sick dragon keeping her treasure tight in her arms. Now I daydream about my book and my characters, their relationships, and the town they inhabit.

Daydreaming has led me right back to falling in love with a book I wrote and put aside three years ago. Rewrites were hard and joyless, until I let myself daydream.

Daydreaming has led me right back to

falling in love with a book I wrote and put aside three years ago. Rewrites were hard and joyless, until I let myself daydream.

Your turn! Try daydreaming about one aspect of what you’re writing + creating every day for one week, whenever you can. Tell me how it goes. Let’s chat about daydreaming: [email protected]