By staff in News — 14 Oct 2025

How People With ADHD Can Harness Mind Wandering and Enhance Creativity - Discover Magazine

When the mind drifts, it’s often seen as a distraction. But for some people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), that wandering may actually be a hidden strength.

New research reveals that intentionally letting the mind wander may help explain why individuals with ADHD often excel in creative tasks.

“We found that people with more ADHD traits, such as lack of attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, score higher on creative achievements,” said lead researcher Dr. Han Fang in a press release. “Additionally, we found that mind wandering, particularly deliberate mind wandering, where people allow their ‘thoughts to wander on purpose,’ was associated with greater creativity in people with ADHD. This suggests that mind wandering may be an underlying factor connecting ADHD and creativity.”

How Mind Wandering Affects People With ADHD

ADHD is known for its challenges: impulsiveness, restlessness, and trouble maintaining focus. However, throughout history, many people with ADHD have transformed these traits into strengths, particularly in creative areas.

The question scientists have grappled with is how. Part of the answer lies in how attention sometimes slips — and what happens when it does. Fang pointed out that not all mind wandering is created equal:

“It can be a loss of concentration, where your mind may drift from subject to subject. This is ‘spontaneous mind-wandering.’ Another type is ‘deliberate mind wandering,’ where people give themselves the freedom to drift off-subject, where they ‘allow their thoughts to take a different course.’ Psychiatrists have developed ways of measuring how much people are subject to these different tendencies.”

Linking ADHD Traits, Mind Wandering, and Creativity

Fang’s team carried out two separate studies involving over 750 adults from Europe and the U.K., including both individuals with ADHD and neurotypical controls. Each group completed standard psychological questionnaires measuring:

ADHD traits — levels of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity
Types of mind wandering — distinguishing between spontaneous and deliberate
Creative ability — tested through classic divergent-thinking tasks, like coming up with unusual uses for everyday objects
Functional impairments — such as difficulty staying organized or completing tasks

The team discovered that ADHD traits were linked to both mind wandering and creativity. Participants with more inattentive or impulsive traits tended to report greater mind wandering and higher creative achievement. They also found that deliberate mind wandering fueled innovation. Choosing to let thoughts drift intentionally helped explain the creative edge observed in people with ADHD.

However, spontaneous mind wandering did the opposite. Uncontrolled daydreaming was tied instead to the everyday challenges of ADHD, like disorganization and lapses in focus.

How Harnessing Mind Wandering Can Help

The implications are promising. Instead of simply trying to suppress distractions in people with ADHD, experts can teach them to steer those drifting thoughts.

“This may have practical implications for both psychoeducation and treatment. For psychoeducation, specially designed programs or courses that teach individuals how to utilize their spontaneous ideas, for example, turning them into creative outputs, could help individuals with ADHD traits harness the benefits of mind wandering. For treatment, ADHD-tailored mindfulness-based interventions that seek to decrease spontaneous mind wandering or transform it into more deliberate forms may reduce functional impairments and enhance treatment outcomes,” said Fang.

By shedding light on deliberate mind wandering as a link between ADHD and creativity, this study reinterprets the narrative. What’s often viewed as a cognitive flaw might, under the right conditions, become a wellspring of originality.

ArticleSources

Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:

American Psychiatric Association. What is ADHD?
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Study confirms that people with ADHD can be more creative. The reason may be that they let their mind wander

Overview

For adults with ADHD, understanding how their unique cognitive processes can be turned into strengths is crucial. This article explores the connection between ADHD symptoms in adults in the UK, mind wandering, and enhanced creativity. It highlights significant findings that suggest that what is often perceived as distraction could actually be a pathway to innovative thinking.

New research indicates that intentional mind wandering is linked to higher creative achievements among individuals with ADHD. This insight is particularly relevant for adults seeking ADHD management strategies that play to their strengths rather than simply mitigating their challenges. Embracing mind wandering may serve as a beneficial approach for enhancing creativity in those with ADHD.

Key Details

ADHD is characterised by impulsiveness, restlessness, and difficulties in maintaining focus. However, many individuals with these traits exhibit remarkable creativity. Dr. Han Fang, the lead researcher, reveals that mind wandering can be a double-edged sword. While spontaneous mind wandering may detract from focus, deliberate mind wandering can enhance creativity. This distinction is essential for understanding how to harness ADHD traits effectively.

Fang's research involved over 750 adults from Europe and the UK, including both individuals with ADHD and neurotypical controls. Participants completed psychological assessments measuring ADHD traits, types of mind wandering, creative abilities, and functional impairments. The findings showed that adults with more pronounced ADHD traits reported greater instances of mind wandering and achieved higher creative outputs. Importantly, deliberate mind wandering was found to stimulate innovation, while uncontrolled daydreaming contributed to challenges such as disorganisation.

The study suggests that instead of suppressing distractions, individuals with ADHD can learn to guide their thoughts. This approach may influence both psychoeducation and treatment strategies. By fostering environments that encourage deliberate mind wandering, adults with ADHD can turn their cognitive challenges into strengths, leading to improved creative outcomes.

Such insights are particularly valuable within the context of ADHD treatment options available in the UK, including NHS resources that focus on tailored interventions. Mindfulness-based treatments aimed at transforming spontaneous mind wandering into deliberate thought processes could enhance overall treatment effectiveness.

Practical Takeaways

Explore mindfulness techniques that promote deliberate mind wandering to boost creativity.
Consider joining a local support group focused on adult ADHD support in the UK to share experiences and strategies.
Track your creative projects and note when mind wandering leads to productive ideas.
Discuss with your GP any interest in mindfulness-based interventions as part of your ADHD management strategies.
Engage in activities that encourage creative thinking, such as brainstorming sessions or art classes.
Explore natural ADHD remedies that work, such as regular exercise and proper nutrition, to support cognitive function.
Utilise NHS resources to learn more about the ADHD diagnosis process in the UK and available treatments.

Bottom Line

The most important takeaway from this article is that adults with ADHD can leverage their mind wandering as a tool for creativity rather than viewing it solely as a distraction. This perspective can transform the way individuals with ADHD approach their cognitive processes. By exploring how to manage ADHD without medication, adults can find new ways to thrive creatively and personally.

Those who will benefit most from this information include adults navigating their ADHD symptoms and looking for effective management strategies. However, individuals should be aware that not all mind wandering is beneficial, particularly if it becomes uncontrolled, leading to potential distractions.

ADHD Diagnosis in the UK - Understand the assessment process.
Latest ADHD Research Findings - Discover current studies on ADHD.
More ADHD News - Stay updated on ADHD developments.
About ADHD Compass - Learn about our mission and resources.

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