Friday, November 12, 2010

People spend 'half their waking hours daydreaming'

Daydreaming womanPeople spend nearly half of their waking hours not thinking about what they are actually doing, according to a US study conducted via the iPhone.

More than 2,200 volunteers downloaded an app which then surveyed them about their thoughts and mood at random times of day and night.

The Science study suggested minds wander, even from demanding tasks, at least 30% of the time.

A UK expert said other studies confirmed people are easily distracted.

The iPhone was a novel research tool for researchers at Harvard University.

Participants agreed to be contacted, at which point they selected what they were doing from a menu, whether they were actually thinking about it, and how happy or sad they felt.

Remarkably, some participants were prepared to answer the survey even when making love. ...

via BBC News - People spend 'half their waking hours daydreaming'.

1 comment:

Ann said...

1/3 of one's life is slept away.

1/2 of our waking hours is spent daydreaming, "not thinking."

That leaves us with only 1/3 of our lives when we do think.

But, at least in the U.S., most of that remaining time is spent working for someone else, who is doing our thinking for us.

Why am I not surprised?