Today I was ready an interesting article on msnbc.com called, Sleep on it: Dreams help solve day's problems. In this article it states, "The slumbering mind might not seem like an apt tool for any critical thinking, but humans can actually solve problems while asleep, researchers say. Not only that, but one purpose for dreaming itself may be to help us find solutions to puzzles that plague us during waking hours.
Dreams are highly visual and often illogical in nature, which makes them ripe for the type of "out-of-the-box" thinking that some problem-solving requires, said Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist at Harvard University.
Barrett's theory on dreaming, which she discussed at the Association for Psychological Science meeting here last month, boils down to this: Dreaming is really just thinking, but in a slightly different state from when our eyes are open".
Okay, so we have a Harvard Psychologist basically saying that the need for REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, is not only critical to a good night sleep, but that it also allows you to have the ability to problem solve at the same time.
Maybe Ben Franklin did have something more than he knew, as I mentioned in my previous post Early to bed...Early to rise....
I think that again we are shown the importance of putting ourselves in places where we can think through our problems.
So what are your thoughts?
As always, thank you...The Runner
While I can understand the importance of a good nights sleep, I must say that I've never found a solution/answer to any problem that I might have while asleep. I can say that in the hours of waiting to fall asleep, I have thought problems through, and at times have reached an approach that I was willing to try and/or explore.
ReplyDeleteAnd that has always been the same way I have come my approaches as well, because, most of the people I know, can't sleep when there is something on there mind!!!
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I did, recently have a rough week, due to an outstanding issue that I wanted resolved, and for days it was always there. There when I got up, there when I went to work, and there when I went to bed. But, about four days into this, I woke up knowing exactly what to do, it was really clear, and it freaked me out a bit, but non-the-less, the approach I would take to my issue now had an answer.
I guess thats why this article peaked my interest!
Thanks for your response!
I really enjoy the time when I am lying in bed, winding down and actually have a minute to think. I am able to solve alot of the issues that presented themselves earlier in the day that I didn't feel like or didn't have the energy to deal with. As far as solving problems when I sleep, not so much. There have been times when the thoughts in my dreams that were relative to recent events made me more anxious or upset, but I don't remember a time when I was able to solve any of my problems while sleeping.
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