This is a short post about my wandering mind. I kinda think I frequently get distracted because whatever I am doing is just not challenging enough for my brain. In other words, it is boring. My brain would rather be thinking about something else, almost anything else. So, it wanders into other thoughts. But, I believe that is an asset rather than a liability.
Whatever it is, I can’t seem to do anything about it. My brain constantly works at a dozen things at a time and at 100mph. This is likely an Aspie trait that I fully haven’t discovered yet, or maybe it is because my IQ is up there. 🙃 Whatever…
A study I recently read on the topic mentioned that unhappy minds tend to wander in the past, while happy minds often ponder the future, and that wandering among our memories is crucial to help prepare us for what is yet to come. But then again some kinds of mind-wandering, such as dwelling on problems that can’t be fixed, are often associated with depression. This one is a biggie for me. 😎 But, overall mind-wandering is rarely a waste of time. It is merely our brain trying to get a bit of work done when it is under the impression that there isn’t much else going on.
I just thought you would like to know…
Of course, I would more than welcome your opinion on this matter.
RJ's Corner 
Great question. I think my mind wanders when I’m bored, but also when I’m anxious. And I think the flitting about on the internet has really affected my attention span. I work at this via meditation some days, but honestly, it’s a challenge. And it’s worst at 3am if I am particularly anxious about something going on in my life. 🤷♀️
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Thanks for the thoughts, Laurel. Yeah, I seem to spend 3am with my brain spinning too, lately. Anxiety was one of my wife’s major afflictions. I never realized how much until near the end of her life. I am up at 3am rewording things I have said in the past and trying to prepare for what I know is coming up. Some days I am successful, some not so much. I think of my picture puzzling time as medication as it is about the only time I can shut my brain down. 😎
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It might be that you’re ADHD as well as autistic. We have both in our family. I recently started the process of getting an official diagnosis of autism as an adult – am thinking it’ll take quite some time – but hey, I’ve managed thus far so what harm a few more years? 🙂
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Thanks for the thoughts Francelouise. I once started the process of being officially diagnosed as an Aspie but stopped it when I learned that it wouldn’t make much difference. 95%+ of Autism studies is one “fixing” young children, and practically nothing for adults and seniors. At this point in my life the $4k to make it official just doesn’t make sense to me. I am who I am, and just don’t need “fixing” anyway.
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It’s a very personal choice whether to get a diagnosis as an adult or not – even I’m in two minds sometimes! I do think things are moving on though (although agreed, there isn’t a lot of official help for adults.) Would completely agree with your last sentence – I’m looking for greater self-awareness rather than modification of what makes me, me.
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Thank you for the explanation. That is a very good way to state it.
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