Are you unhappy when your mind wanders?

So I stumbled upon this article that talks about several studies regarding different modes of thought that people employ. Apparently, many of us spend a lot of time not focused on the task at hand or the outside world but are basically on auto-pilot, thinking instead about our inner world and inner thoughts. Not only, but doing so makes us unhappy (I’m taking all of these studies with a grain of salt, though).

People who are not involved in this kind of narrative thinking and instead practice mindfulness (being in the moment) are happier and healthier, long-term brain health wise. So I got to thinking about my own daydreaming which I do a lot and I don’t think doing it makes me unhappy. In my narrative, I think about myself in graduate school or imagine myself in romantic situations with my partner (past or future situations) and, in fact, I prefer this kind of thinking to focusing on the task at hand like dealing with hospital administrators. Overall, my choosing not to be in the moment with them is positive for everyone because they don’t want me to say out loud what I really think of them and their screwed up priorities in life, for example. Even during yoga when the teachers always stress on clearing our minds, I don’t because I don’t think it’s an issue that my mind is on other things as well as what’s going on in my body.

Anyhow, I wanted to ask Fluther about your mind-wandering habits, how much time you spend on ‘being in the moment’ and which makes you happier and when and why?