The impacts of mind-wandering on flow: Examining the critical role of physical activity and mindfulness.
Frontiers in psychology January 1, 2022 Yu-Qin Deng, Binn Zhang, Xinyan Zheng et al. 6 citations
Mind-wandering negatively impacts flow, with a study revealing that 60% of participants reported frequent mind-wandering, leading to lower engagement in tasks. In a sample of 300 individuals, those who practiced mindfulness and engaged in physical activity showed significantly higher flow experiences—up to 40% more than those who did not. Physical activity and mindfulness were found to mediate the relationship between mind-wandering and flow, suggesting that enhancing these practices could mitigate the detrimental effects of mind-wandering on focused engagement.