Daydreaming is mostly harmless and can even be inspiring at times, but doing it too much could seriously derail your life. In extreme cases, it’s known as maladaptive daydreaming, which can cause you to lose yourself in intense fantasies. Are you in danger of too much daydreaming? Look for these signs to find out.
1. You’re easily distracted by your thoughts.
When people are trying to talk to you, it’s not long before you drift out of the conversation and off into your own head. You’re easily distracted by your vivid thoughts, which can pull you from the present moment. Try some techniques to ground you like writing down what the other person is saying or repeating their words in your head to reiterate their message.
2. You daydream all the time.
You might daydream so much that you don’t even realize how much time you’re spending on it. You might do it at home, in the office, and even when you’re in social settings. It’s becoming a habit that’s turning into second nature. This can quickly become a problem, especially when you realize how much it’s interfering with your job, your responsibilities, and your relationships with your friends and family.
3. Your daydreams feel real.
The thing about your daydreams is that they feel so vivid, they can make you feel like you’re actually experiencing them in the moment. This is powerful, so why not use it for visualization mediation sessions? Try to make time for these daydreams so they don’t try to take over the rest of your life. By setting a schedule, you draw a line between your fantasizing and living in the real world.
4. Your daydreams are triggered by everyday life.
Your daydreams can be triggered by things you hear or see. So, maybe listening to a podcast about a celebrity interview makes you daydream about being famous, or hearing a song that reminds you of childhood makes you daydream about being a kid again. Keep a journal of common daydream triggers so you can avoid ones that distract you.
5. You can spend hours at it.
Although daydreams can be quick and last only a few minutes, you’re a chronic daydreamer when you can spend hours daydreaming. Yes, hours! This just proves how much you can get caught up with what’s going on in your head. Think of all the other things you could be doing with that time!
6. You make facial expressions or sounds during your daydreams.
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Since your daydreams feel so real, you become engaged in them to the point where you might make certain facial expressions or say something to yourself out loud. It’s embarrassing if others see or hear this, especially if you’re at work. You’re so caught up in your head that you don’t even realize that what you’re fantasizing about isn’t actually happening!
7. You struggle to focus during conversations.
You tend to daydream when talking to other people, which could be a way to calm yourself if you’re feeling anxious or stressed about social settings. However, it can also make you look bored or distracted to the person you’re with, so try to engage during a conversation by asking the other person questions. It’ll keep your mind locked into the present moment.
8. You listen to music to help you daydream more.
If you love daydreaming so much, you might want to find ways to encourage more daydreams by listening to your favorite music. This is fine when you’ve got lots of spare time and nothing else to do, but if it’s eating into your productivity, you’ll need to make a change. To break this cycle, try to avoid triggers so you can concentrate on your to-do list instead. Put those headphones down!
9. You daydream to keep yourself calm.
Daydreaming can feel good. It might even keep you calm when you’re nervous or stressed out. Maybe this goes back to your childhood when you’d use daydreaming as a self-soothing practice. Choose other, healthier ways to stay calm like meditating and processing your feelings.
10. You procrastinate.
Your chronic daydreaming can cause you to procrastinate — a lot. You delay deadlines and put your tasks on ice, which intensifies your stress levels. Try to deal with procrastination by working in a quiet, distraction-free environment. Do small tasks instead of trying to take on a huge one, which can feel overwhelming.
11. You forget things you’ve heard.
When people speak and you daydream, you’ll miss some important information. Force yourself to engage by actively listening. This will also keep your brain occupied so you can’t daydream. Ask questions and repeat what’s being said back to the other person. This way, you don’t get stuck in your own head so often.
12. You lose track of car trips.
If you daydream while you drive, you might end up in locations without remembering the drive there. This shows you how distracted you are, and it can be dangerous. To improve your focus when driving, don’t drive when you’re tired, and use your brain power to plan your trip and to spot landmarks along the way.
13. You feel frustrated when someone interrupts your daydreams.
You might feel anxious or angry when someone calls you during a vivid daydream. This is a red flag that you’re relying too much on your daydreams to get through the day. To deal with this, force yourself to move around and do a different activity at regular intervals.
14. You’re struggling to fall asleep.
If your daydreams are so vivid and powerful, they can cause you to struggle to relax enough to fall asleep at night. You might lie awake for hours at night wrapped up in your fantasies, which makes you exhausted and cranky the following morning. Try to clear your mind before bedtime so you don’t go to bed feeling like your mind’s racing.
15. You view daydreaming as self-care.
Since your daydreaming habit can feel good and calm you down, you probably view it as a way to show yourself self-care. Try to replace it with other self-care activities to get you out of your head, such as cooking healthy meals, catching up with a loved one, or using essential oils in a pampering treatment.
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