Off Task, On Purpose: How Embracing Distraction Unlocks Big Ideas

I often got in trouble at school for staring out the window or daydreaming.

"Pay attention."
"Focus."
"Stay on task."

This felt like death by a thousand cuts throughout my childhood. Little messages that let me know I was somehow out of line. Different. Not quite right.

And yet, in those moments of being "off task," my mind traveled to magical places. I imagined worlds, solved problems I didn’t even know I had, and dreamed of things bigger than the little desk I was stuck in. 

Here’s the thing: off task is where the magic happens.

On task is where that magic gets implemented.

We need both. 

Are You Letting Yourself Daydream?

When was the last time you let yourself just be? To sit, stare out the window, and let your mind wander? To dream without any agenda or judgment? Or, guilt?

Or have you been berating yourself for being "too distractible"? For having an "ADHD brain"? For not being disciplined enough?

More lies. More tiny cuts.

Let me tell you what no one else might: that part of you—the daydreamer, the wanderer, the one who follows the butterfly trails of thought—that part is pure genius.

But your genius was thwarted by well-meaning but ill-informed grade school teachers who made you wrong for this natural inclination. 

This is why I’m so committed to helping people build a business and a life that aligns with the natural workings of the brain, the natural cycles of nature and the natural flow of a human life. 

Society at large is still operating in outmoded ways based upon misunderstandings of how we work. 

The Connection Between Daydreaming and Running a Business

Creating and maintaining a business is an act of creativity. It’s the ultimate expression of your unique magic. But it doesn’t come from spreadsheets or to-do lists (though those have their place). It comes from moments of insight, the kind that only happens when you let your mind roam freely, for extended periods of time. 

A highly sensitive person is naturally attuned to subtleties. We pick up on patterns others miss. We connect dots no one else even sees. That’s an area of strength and unique genius. But it only works if we give ourselves the space to dream.

So, I’ll ask you again: are you allowing yourself time to stare out the window? Because it’s a business strategy that could make the difference between struggling and thriving. 

I remember one summer afternoon, before I started this business. I was lying in my hammock in my backyard, watching sunlight filter through the branches of the grand spruce trees above. I’d gone outside to escape the chaos of my to-do list. I told myself it was just for five minutes, but time slipped away.

As I watched the patterns of light and shadow dance on the ground, a random idea popped into my head. It was about a tiny workshop I could host—just me and a few women gathering to talk about the challenges we were facing in our creative lives.

At first, it seemed silly. Who would come? What would I even teach? But the idea wouldn’t leave me alone.

That workshop turned into a series, and that series eventually became the foundation for my business. All of it started because I gave myself permission to sit still, to dream, and to follow the whispers of my imagination.

The Science Behind Daydreaming: Meet Your Default Mode Network

Did you know there’s actually a part of your brain that lights up when you’re “off task”? It’s called the Default Mode Network (DMN), and it’s active when you’re daydreaming, reflecting, or letting your mind wander.

The DMN is where your brain connects the dots, generates insights, and processes your deepest thoughts and emotions. It’s like the backstage crew of your mind, quietly working on creative solutions and big-picture ideas while you stare out the window or sip your tea.

When you’re always “on task,” that network’s functions suffer. But giving yourself time to daydream activates the DMN and allows your brain to do what it does best: innovate, imagine, and solve problems in ways you couldn’t plan for consciously.

Let’s Reframe the Narrative

When I first started offering workshops on a holistic lifestyle for highly sensitive people, reframing our experiences was a big part of it. In the light of awareness about this trait, many reflect back and say, “Oh! So that’s why I reacted that way.” Or, “That’s why that happened.” We build our identity based on how people treat us and respond to us. So to heal into wholeness, reframing is often needed. 

Instead of calling yourself "distractible," try calling yourself "imaginative." Instead of labeling your mind as "scattered," think of it as "expansive."

When you honor your need to daydream, you’re not slacking off—you’re planting seeds. Seeds for ideas. Seeds for breakthroughs. Seeds for the life and business you’ve always wanted.

Give Yourself Permission

Forget the pink slip, (did you have these in your school? A little note about your bad behavior sent to the principal or your parents?) here’s your permission slip:

• Let your mind wander.
• Take a walk without your phone.
• Sit with a cup of tea and stare at the sky.

Let go of the guilt. Trust that the insights you need will come.

Your business idea—whatever it may be—is already there, waiting for you to notice it. But you won’t find it by powering through your email or checking off a to-do list. You’ll find it in the quiet spaces, in the stillness, in the moments when you’re "off task."

As someone who’s walked this path before, I can tell you this: the magic isn’t out there somewhere. It’s already within you.

So, go ahead. Stare out the window. Daydream. Trust the process.

The world needs your ideas. But first, you need to give yourself permission to dream them into being.

Journal prompt: Let your mind wander back to a time (recently or in the distant past) where you were made to feel wrong (or made yourself feel wrong) for mind wandering, daydreaming or being distracted. Ask yourself, what insights or understanding may have come from this state? It may be helpful to stare out the window with this question on your mind. Journal on your discoveries from this prompt.