Monkey Around

(Monkey photo by Jamie Haughton on Unsplash)

The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines ‘Monkey Around’ as, “to do things that are not useful or serious”. Examples include: “We just monkeyed around all afternoon.” And, “A young scientist monkeying around in the lab.”

Has your boss ever reprimanded you for NOT monkeying around enough? No, you say. Well I say yes, do it.

Most of us are busy with our list of things to do each day. Jumping from one to the next. Racing to meet deadlines. It is a never-ending cycle. Eventually, fatigue sets in as we continue at our speedy pace. Make breaks a part of your day. And why not make them fun. Daydream and  goof-off during your breaks.

Daydreaming is referred to as “a good example of a trance”, in the textbook, Integrative Medicine (Self-Hypnosis Techniques chapter by Steven Gurgevich, PhD). “In a daydream, we are aware of where we are and what we are doing, but at the same time we are absorbed in the experience and sensations of the daydream. This includes our thoughts, ideas, and images.”

Perhaps our daydream can be viewed as a little getaway from our physical location, allowing us to go anywhere we want for our little break. And when we return back to our physical surroundings, we may feel more refreshed and ready for the rest of our daily chores.

There is another benefit of taking breaks to either use our imagination or to quiet our mind. Taking time away from a challenging task may lead to ideas popping into our mind at random times that provide answers on how to move forward. Has this ever happened to you?

Since the start of our blog challenge this week, a few of my ideas came to me while goofing off in the forest. In the past I would not jot down these random thought ideas, and would forget them. So now I am sure to bring either my cell phone or small voice recorder with me where ever I go.

These random thoughts do not always pop up when we are in the middle of a lot of thinking. Many times these ideas will appear out of no where, during a time when our mind is quiet or having fun.

So get out there and monkey around some. Watch your productivity increase, your mental well-being improve, and your creativity shine.

Hey, hey we’re the monkeys…