Unraveling the Wandering Mind

Does your mind wander? You're not alone. Most people have derailed, disjointed thoughts -- and fairly frequently, according to a recent Associated Press article. On average, we're not thinking about what we're doing about 30% to 40% of the time, says Michael Kane a psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

New studies are beginning to shed some light on the common mental hiccup. Most of the time mind-wandering is harmless, like thinking about work while you're eating lunch. But it can be dangerous when it distracts you from something you should be paying attention to, like changing lanes on the freeway. Research may some day help students focus better on their studies, help drivers stay alert, even help those with ADHD learn to focus.

In experiments at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Johnathan Schooler found that people's minds start to wander even before they realize it. "The mind is always trying to wander, every chance it gets," Schooler explains. This happens, he thinks, because the mind has multiple goals and tasks it is constantly working toward -- some immediate and in our present realm of consciousness -- others simmering just outside our awareness like planning for the future, working out everyday problems, and understanding oneself. Sometimes, the unconscious goals hijack our attention and our brain goes wandering off on a tangent.

Researchers are trying to determine why the brain wanders to begin with. "Mind-wandering is probably more often helpful than harmful," Kane says. "A lot of human daily life is autopilot. There's a whole lot of what we need to do that we can do without thinking about it, from driving to eating. . . . We do occasionally miss that turn on the way home, but we get through the day pretty well."

How can you minimize mind-wandering? Try these tips for increasing concentration:

• Avoid windows with a tempting view.
• Take short, scheduled breaks. Stretch, stand, walk around, get a drink of water.
• Create mental pictures from the material you're reading.
• When using a computer, shut off e-mail and messaging programs.
• Shift your body position.
• If something is distracting you, take action, even if you just take the first step toward a solution, it will help you focus. Making a list of things to do can also help unclutter your mind.