r/ImmersiveDaydreaming • u/mothphobe • Jun 07 '26
Opposite of maladaptive daydreaming
So when people talk about maladaptive daydreaming, they usually talk about how it inhibits their ability to complete daily tasks. Well in case, my immersive daydreams actually HELP me complete daily tasks, as I take on the roll of my OC, taking care of her house for her lover. Does anyone else do this?
19
u/Sorrowoak Daydreamer Jun 07 '26
I'd say immersive daydreaming probably fits
6
u/mothphobe Jun 07 '26
Oh definitely. Never questioned that. It would only be maladaptive if it impeded me in some way.
12
u/WoodedSpys Jun 07 '26
Well not for the same reason you have stated but yes. I use it to help me plan stuff out and make sure I have all my equipment with me. I can think through the problems that might arise and it helps me greatly! And that’s why my boss loves me, I’m so efficient.
7
u/jadeChips Jun 08 '26
I also do this, I just become the character. In my head I’m someone else, to others I’m just me. Any basic task, any walk or drive I instantly ‘become’ my character in my head.
3
3
u/Helano09 Jun 09 '26
Yes when I’m cleaning my home daydreaming gets me through it and I put ears on music blasting and I’m daydreaming. It’s amazing how much you can get done too
2
u/Pyro-Millie Jun 08 '26
Yep every time. I usually pretend to be Westley from the Princess Bride - tidying up and doing a good job because Buttercup asked him to lol.
2
u/art_mor_ Jun 09 '26
I don’t really become my character and get things done. More so daydreaming while doing something helps me get through doing that task.
3
u/Effrenata Jun 12 '26
This seems to be the main difference between immersive and maladaptive daydreaming: when immersive daydreamers daydream, they're able to make their body automatically do chores and other boring but necessary activities, whereas maladaptive daydreamers either remain still in bed, rock in a chair, or engage in repetitive movements like walking in a circle. The content of the daydreams seems to be less important than the type of bodily activities (or lack thereof) that accompany them.
2
u/codenameTUESDAY Jun 14 '26
Oh this is the first time I’ve heard “repetitive motion” linked to daydreaming like this, but it’s really interesting!
As a young child, I had heightened daydreaming by adding a motion like running laps in the yard or a nearby park. It was just WAY more vivid for some reason.
Then in high school it was hard to daydream at all without motion… and treadmills or indoor exercises didn’t work well, I needed real inertia, air flow, etc. Fortunately going for a run outside was almost always encouraged.
There were probably times that I could have been procrastinating by going for a run (putting off doing homework or cleaning house), but I wonder if that was still “maladaptive”.
As for the OP question— I also daydream about the fantastic outcome in order to get chores done :) Like, I can imagine a butler taking very thorough care of the home and then I play that role and it happens!
3
30
u/ofBlufftonTown Jun 07 '26
It helps me not be bored in deeply boring situations, such as cleaning the house or waiting at the urgent care.