The alarm clock rings in your ear, the kids are screaming, your email alerts are buzzing and your to-do list is 2 pages long (written short hand). The daily treadmill has begun. Press the big red stop button and get off. Here are 8 ways wasting time can actually help get you get it all done!

1. Clear your head, literally:Stop what you are doing, put everything down, including the phone, and go for a walk. Movement literally clears the cobwebs from your brain. As we exercise more oxygen-rich blood flows through our body and to our brain. More oxygen equals more brainpower. A leisurely walk may lead to a solution to that problem that has been nagging you.
   

2.Dance and sing:Instead of plowing through it all until you fall down, take a break every 60 minutes and dance and sing to one song. My favorite song is Preacher Son so I play it on the hour, get up, dance and sing the song away. It may feel like you are wasting time but the positive endorphins and increase in metabolism you create will make the other 55 minutes even more productive.

1. Doodle your to-dos:Can’t remember half of the stuff you were supposed to do today. Try doodling on your to-do list. Turns out the activity we used to get in trouble for in school actually helps with focus and memory.

1. Read a magazine:Push aside everything on your desk, kick your feet up and enjoy a new magazine. Going wide with our knowledge can help us connect seemingly desperate pieces of information and that leads to new ideas. Could be the idea you’ve been waiting for.

1. Count sheep:Counting sheep is a great way to let your mind wander. It’s totally mindless and eventually your mind will drift off to other places. Did you know that the brain actually becomes highly active when we wander? Both the imaginative and executive decision centers kick into high gear. You may think your brain is dormant but it’s actually working hard. Some of the best ideas came during a mindless wander – Post It Notes!
   
   
2. Go to the movies:Sometimes you just need to walk away, do something for yourself and then come back to reality. Motivation goes a long way and if that’s what it takes to keep you going then I say indulge. Otherwise you may be going through the motions, sacrificing both quality and your happiness.

1. Play with building blocks:Building blocks aren’t just a kid’s toy. There is a powerful connection between the mind and body. Creating from scratch with your hands what the mind first imagined can help you unleash your creative potential. Play increases your sense of curiosity and discovery. Both are critical in achieving your best and being better able to adapt to when things don’t go as planned.
   
2. Play pretend:Who says daydreaming is a waste of time? Daydreaming is actually an internal form of planning and a little planning goes a long way. Close your eyes and spend 10 minutes painting a vivid picture in your head. Could be of that meeting with the boss in the afternoon, how you’ll feel after spending 2 hours entertaining your kids while trying to cook dinner or your weekend getaway. Talk it out, see it in color, and fill in all the details. If you have a hard time doing this I suggest setting a timer. Starting the exercise knowing you have an end helps the mind and body relax and ease into it’s dreams.

Tamara Kleinberg is the Chief Imaginator of Imaginibbles and the creator of the 7 Building Blocks to Imaginative Thinking™, harnessing right brain superpowers and unlocking creative potential for individuals and organizations. She is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and idea tinkerer. You can find her at .