Why Mind Wandering Is Bad For You and How to Stop It

Random, unintentional thinking like you do when your mind wanders happens in a different part of the brain than intentional thoughts. And too much mind wandering is bad for you in that it makes you more anxious and unhappy. In this video, I explain why mind wandering increases your anxiety and unhappiness and two things you can do about it. References Wilson, T. D., Reinhard, D. A., Westgate, E. C., Gilbert, D. T., Ellerbeck, N., Hahn, C., Brown, C. L., & Shaked, A. (2014). Social psychology. Just think: the challenges of the disengaged mind. Science (New York, N.Y.), 345(6192), 75–77. Killingsworth, M.A., & Gilbert, D.T. (2010). A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind. Science, 330, 932 - 932. Follow me on Instagram for quick, bite-sized mental-health tips WANT TO START IN THERAPY? Here’s a convenient and affordable option with my sponsor BetterHelp For