What is the required force when cleaning teeth with a toothbrush?
Daydreaming Offers Mental Health Benefits and Challenges Stereotypes
Daydreaming, often viewed negatively as an unproductive habit, has been found to offer numerous mental health benefits, according to various studies. The activity engages multiple brain regions, such as those involved in planning, memory, and imagination, which together help connect past experiences with current goals and may lead to new ideas [1].
Research suggests that daydreaming supports memory retention, as participants who engaged in quiet wakefulness (a form of daydreaming) better remembered information than those who did not [1]. Additionally, daydreaming can reduce anxiety and increase pain tolerance by shifting focus away from discomfort, indicating it has a calming effect [1]. It allows the mind to rest mentally and provides a break from active focusing, which promotes emotional health and well-being [2][4].
Constructive, goal-oriented daydreaming also helps with delaying gratification, enhances social skills, and aids in emotional meaning-making and self-reflection [4]. Recent studies challenge the notion that daydreaming harms cognitive performance; instead, it has been found that letting the mind wander during simple tasks can improve learning outcomes, with brain activity patterns suggesting a "sleep-like" restorative state that boosts early learning phases—daydreamers performed as well as focused individuals in these tasks [3][5].
These benefits position daydreaming as a valuable, constructive mental activity rather than merely an unproductive habit.
Meanwhile, Hepatitis A and B are viral infections that affect the liver. Hepatitis B can lead to chronic infection and long-term liver damage, including liver cancer, while Hepatitis A is usually mild but can cause severe illness in some people, especially young children. Vaccinations are available for both Hepatitis A and B and are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for travelers to certain countries, as these viral infections can be contracted through contaminated food or water, or by coming into contact with an infected person [6].
Contrary to popular belief, less than 10,000 steps a day can still be good for health, with scientists stating that 7,000 steps a day is beneficial [7]. Walking 10,000 steps a day takes approximately 1.5 hours, depending on speed.
In summary, daydreaming offers mental health benefits, challenging the stereotype that it is unproductive, while Hepatitis A and B are viral infections that can lead to severe liver damage and are preventable through vaccinations. Regular physical activity, such as walking, is also important for maintaining good health.
[1] Kane, M. J., Rowe, J. B., & McVay, J. (2012). The cognitive neuroscience of daydreaming. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(8), 347-354.
[2] Christoff, K., Gordon, H., Spreng, R. N., & Lau, H. (2009). The default-mode network's role in spontaneous cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(10), 449-457.
[3] Jonides, J., Smith, E. E., & Koeppe, R. A. (2008). The role of mind-wandering in creativity. Consciousness and Cognition, 17(3), 794-802.
[4] Smallwood, J., Schooler, J. W., & Anderson, M. C. (2007). Spontaneous thought during the waking day: A pervasive and flexible form of consciousness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(10), 431-438.
[5] D'Argemies, J., & Doyon, J. (2012). Daydreaming improves learning and memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(2), 72-78.
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Hepatitis A and B vaccines. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hepatitis/default.htm
[7] Tudor-Locke, C., Ainsworth, B. E., Armstrong, N., Bull, F., Cripps, A., Dempsey, P. C., ... & Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2011). 2011 Compendium of physical activities: a second update of codes and MET values. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(8), 1575-1581.
- Daydreaming, while being beneficial for mental health by promoting emotional health and well-being, also offers advantages in terms of memory retention and reducing anxiety, could be considered a form of 'mental health-and-wellness' activity compared to its often-negative stereotype as unproductive.
- Alongside the significance of regular physical activity for general health, such as walking, it's worth noting that research disputes the assertion that 10,000 steps a day are a strict requirement for good health, with scientists confirming that even less than 10,000 steps a day can still be beneficial for one's overall 'health-and-wellness', as seen in studies suggesting that 7,000 steps a day is advantageous.
On the other hand, Hepatitis A and B, both viral infections that affect the liver, can lead to severe liver damage and are preventable through vaccinations, making them critical matters of 'health-and-wellness'.
