How Wandering Improves Learning and Creativity

What does it mean to wander?

“Not all those who wander are lost,” J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in The Fellowship of the Ring. Many have heard this famous line (or some variation of it). But what, exactly, does Tolkien mean by wander?

Most hear that word and think of physical movement. It conjures aimlessly roaming through the woods, or from location to location. That’s certainly one way of looking at it.

It’s not the only way to interpret the word, though. To wander can also mean to move through ideas or questions, to engage in a psychological journey, without a destination in mind. To wander can simply mean to let thoughts drift from topic to topic or to venture down an internet rabbit hole.

Essentially, wandering is openness in action. It invites a kind of mental spaciousness that tends to diminish with age. It can feel inefficient or indulgent to let a sense of wonder guide the mind and one’s time, especially when daily life is dictated by tasks and productivity.

But neuroscience suggests it’s exactly this looseness that fosters some of our deepest insights.

Why learning thrives when we’re not trying‍

You can’t think of a word, or the directions to someone’s house, or the best way to deliver some bad news. What do you do? You strain your mind, searching for a solution as quickly as you can. Yet nothing you come up with seems quite right.

In these moments, your mind may feel like it’s in overdrive, but it’s really stuck in neutral. That’s because you’re actually limiting the scope of your thoughts: When you're focused too hard on solving a problem, your brain’s frontal lobes dominate, narrowing your attention.

It may seem counterintuitive, but researchers have found that the best way to get past these mental barriers is to step away from them. Why?

Well, like many complex machines, the brain requires a little finessing to unlock its full potential.

When you let your mind wander elsewhere for a while, you’re not turning away from the problem. Interestingly enough, your brain is still working on solving it in the background. The difference is that your novel thoughts are engaging new neural pathways that might lead to a solution. Psychologists John Kounios and Mark Beeman found that relaxed states encourage insight, those creative “Aha!” moments.

Whether it’s through resting, daydreaming, or walking, this mental wandering is known as incubation. It’s the idea that insight often comes not from pushing, but from pausing. Wandering creates mental slack, giving ideas space to collide in unexpected ways.

Drawing connections between remote ideas promotes divergent thinking, a core skill in creativity. A study found that people who performed well on associative tasks—essentially, mental wandering—showed significantly higher divergent thinking ability.

What does wandering do to the brain?

When you’re not trying to focus—when you let your thoughts drift during a walk, for example—a system of connected brain areas called the default mode network (DMN) kicks in. This network, discovered by neuroscientist Marcus Raichle, lights up during introspection, imagination, and reflection. It’s active when you think about the past, imagine the future, or consider other people’s perspectives.

Activating the DMN isn’t zoning out—it’s a necessary part of how we consolidate memory, generate insights, and regulate emotion.

And it doesn’t take long. A 2011 study found that brief mental breaks—even just a minute or two—can sustain attention and improve performance on demanding tasks. These pauses give your brain a reset, reducing fatigue and supporting learning.

How to wander more in your life

You don’t need to block off hours or book a retreat. Start with a few small shifts:

• Unstructured walks: Don’t set a destination. Let your senses lead the way. What do you see, hear, or feel that you usually miss?
• Explore outside your lane: Read or watch something unrelated to your work. Going on a detour will get you further; curiosity is more powerful than relevance.
• Take soft-focus breaks: Between deep work sessions, stare out a window. Doodle. Let your thoughts meander.
• Play aimlessly: Write, draw, or brainstorm without a plan. These activities engage the DMN and spark insight.

Wandering isn’t the opposite of productivity—it’s a gateway to it. When we step back, we return sharper, more connected, and often with a new perspective. We can focus more deeply.

Letting go of the need to optimize every moment opens up space for discovery—the kind that lasts. And whether you're walking, thinking, or simply noticing something new, that’s where real learning begins.