Christian Schaaf's Blog + Portfolio

Author: cschaaf933

  • Mind-Wandering: Running Away from Societal Pressures

    Mind-Wandering: Running Away from Societal Pressures

    Have you ever worked on a task, however miniscule or large it may be, and felt overwhelmed because the solution wasn’t clear? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. The old me would hyperfocus on finding a solution immediately, growing frustrated when it wasn’t within reach. Now, even though I sometimes succumb to this irritation, I try to approach it differently.

    In Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again, Johann Hari introduces the concept of mind-wandering, a practice modern society often dismisses as ineffective. We’re constantly told to be productive, so why would we “waste” time letting our minds drift? With the internet at our fingertips constantly bombarding us with information, the idea of slowing down feels counterproductive. But maybe, there’s a hidden benefit to mind wandering.

    Professors Nathan Spreng and Jonathan Smallwood, along with Samuel Murray, Nathan Liang, Nicholaus Brosowky, and Paul Seli in What Are The Benefits of Mind Wandering to Creativity?, have all explored the potential advantages of mind-wandering. Their studies suggest that allowing your mind to wander can help you organize personal goals, tap into creativity, and make better long-term decisions. They also highlight how the environment affects the quality of mind-wandering—while a stressful setting may lead to negative results, a calm, peaceful space can lead to breakthroughs in inspiration and solution.

    I was surprised when I first encountered this idea. Society often teaches us that being productive means staying laser focused, digesting endless streams of information, and avoiding distraction. I had always viewed mind-wandering as an unproductive, off-task mental process. But then I asked myself, have I ever experienced this kind of wandering before?

    The answer is yes. When I was younger, after spending hours on schoolwork and growing frustrated, my parents would say, “Christian, take a break. Go outside and clear your mind.” I didn’t realize it then, but that simple advice helped me unlock the mental clarity I needed.

    As an adult, the one activity that consistently allows me to experience mind-wandering is running. When I run, I enter what Hari calls a “flow state.” I feel alive, present, and free. The world slows down. I hear the birds’ songs, admire the flora and fauna I run past, feel the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement, and appreciate the everchanging architecture around me. My mind drifts—freely, effortlessly—and in these moments, solutions to life’s problems often appear.

    It’s in this tranquil setting that my mind can wander without pressure, and as the research suggests, the benefits are profound. Like Hari’s mind-opening experience in Provincetown, my thoughts become clearer, my creativity heightens, and I find peace.

    So maybe Hari and the experts are right—slowing down and allowing our minds to wander isn’t unproductive. In fact, it may be the key to solving the complex problems we face in life.

  • The Art of Monotasking: Is It Possible to Achieve Flow in the Workplace?

    The Art of Monotasking: Is It Possible to Achieve Flow in the Workplace?

    In June 2022, fresh out of college, I embarked on a new chapter as the Communications Specialist at a K-12 school. My role involves many responsibilities, including website and social media management, promoting fundraisers, graphic design, photography, and overseeing overall school communications. Initially, I had it easy – the quiet summer months felt serene, with only the hum of lawn mowers breaking the silence. I hadn’t yet grasped the whirlwind to come.

    The first day of the school year was one I will remember. Nervous excitement buzzed through campus as students and teachers returned to school. With new faces came new responsibilities. I went from handling one or two tasks to juggling multiple projects simultaneously. My brain spun faster than an Olympic figure skater, like a tsunami of information crashing into my office. In an instant, I shifted from monotasking to multitasking.

    I am currently reading Johann Hari’s novel Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again. Throughout his research, Hari discusses the fascinating findings of psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Mihaly introduces the concept of a “flow,” a state of deep absorption where you lose all sense of self. To achieve flow, you must set a defined, meaningful goal that can only be achieved through monotasking. Our focus is easily stolen by external stimuli that eradicate this tranquil feeling. In a society that is described as the “Great Acceleration” by British writer Robert Colville, reaching flow feels increasingly elusive. We want instant results and crave surface-level answers, leaving little room for deep conversation and thought.

    This raises the question: Is it possible to achieve flow in a professional setting? Have I reached this “flow state” in my workplace? The honest answer: I’m still working on it. Hari suggests that even though the path to flow is multilayered and takes time, we can start by controlling what is within our reach on a personal level. Can I control when teachers ask me to create a last-minute flyer? No. Can I control when a colleague assigns me a large project when I have other assignments to complete? No. But I can limit distractions, reducing what MIT Professor Earl Miller describes as the “switch cost effect.” Humans have limited cognitive capacity – we can only absorb so much information. By putting away my phone and silencing notifications, I can carve out mental space to deeply focus in my work setting.

    I have learned that achieving flow is a continuous, long journey with highs and lows. Reaching flow is about focusing on what we can control, embracing monotasking by prioritizing projects and tackling each task one at a time. For me, finding this “flow state” is an ongoing undertaking, but each step I take to diminish distractions is progress in the right direction.