At no cost to you, this site may contain affiliated links or ads to offset the expenses of operating a website. Please see the disclosureto satisfy your curiosity.

I was in a rush, as I was on my way to an interview and leaving later than I wanted to.

As I was backing out of the driveway, I was checking the street for oncoming cars but not paying attention to where I was backing. In the depths of my distracted mind, I figured the backup camera would scream at me if I got too close to another vehicle.

As I’m speedily exiting the driveway, I am jolted from my mindless reverie as I smash into my neighbor’s parked pickup. I feel blood drain from my face as I hear the backup camera screaming at me.

What a way to meet my new neighbors.

Mindless Inattention

My cost of mindlessness for this moment was quite pricey but I have been practicing this fuzzy habit for years.

I know the feeling well.

I typically drift into mindlessness when I am doing something routine that requires little thought.

Usually, the drift comes up during hygiene activities like brushing my teething, showering, and putting on lotion. Habits that are so routine that I don’t need to worry about harming myself if I let me mind drift.

The unfortunate part is that it doesn’t end there. It can include a gaggle of other activities like commuting, making dinner, even eating. It is not a good feeling when I suddenly realize – I don’t remember how I got here or how that food got eaten.

The Drift Problem

As a fully faulted human, I still default to mindlessness especially when my brain is tired. I let the ingrained habitats take over and give my energy-sapping thinker a break.  

I strive for better by grounding myself in the process. Instead of letting the fog creep in, I try focus on what I’m feeling like the warm water when I am washing dishes or the beautiful rainbow shine of the soapy bubbles.  

If I focus on my senses and the awareness of the moment, I am more likely to enjoy the process. As a bonus, no emergency funds hurt!

Battling the Fog

I know it’s worth the energy to avoid the cost of mindlessness because all the science I have read suggests the more my mind wanders, the less happy I am.

Dang it!

Turns out, mindfulness is cheaper than mindlessness.

I feel that on a deep level right along with my $500 insurance deductible.