What is mind wandering?

Here are some comments from participants in this study

Thought of my friend’s husky and remembered the Walter commercial with the cat name Walter leading a pack of huskies pulling a sled! Writing a report and suddenly remembered seeing a coyote. Working and felt wave of appreciation for my coworkers. Meeting deadline and thought of hot tub. Quick thought of upcoming yucky dental surgery while doing laundry. Was missing my mom. I was just getting lunch and talking to a friend and sudden thought of my new car and felt proud. Watching Olympics when I thought about my sister and missed her. Trying to nap but thinking about work. At doctor visit thought about going to Costco. Focused on work when thought about my kids at preschool popped up. Fixing breakfast, thought about sky diving this weekend. Gardening and worried about kids’ feelings if we move. Listening to story when mind floated to thinking about riding horses on a beach. Just puttering around cleaning up when thoughts of weather and Covid popped up. I was on Instagram and wondering about a photo of my dog I had somewhere. In a boring meeting. Thinking about traffic. Relaxing on my porch when I imagined my trip to New Mexico. Thinking about my toddler while taking a shower. Filling in tax forms when thought about snowstorm coming. Reading reports and thought about football game. Driving and anxious about Covid and did I forget my mask. Getting dressed and thought about a movie I saw. Distracted driving. Worries. Was making chicken tacos and thinking about a new job I read about. Travel planning. But worries about Covid. Watching a good movie with a glass of wine and thought about a friend from college. I am totally mind wandering at this time. I was sitting in waiting room and a kid came in who was really noisy and I thought of my brother. I  was washing my hands and thought about shopping. I was putting dinner on the dinner table but thinking about my dad. I was online shopping and thought of eating sushi with a friend in my old car. I was getting in my car and thought about the tsunami last month. I was loading up my computers and starting up a program while thinking about an online class. Watching a YouTube video about trucks with my son and thought about a deadline. Facetiming my mom but see something in her kitchen and now thinking about that art class when I was eight. I was on my treadmill when I thought about trainer at the gym. I was working while listening to music and thought about spring. Texting about a weekend work project and thought about coffee. Took care of sick kids today and wondering what is happening at work. Took out the garbage and thought about riding in a bike race. Watched kids build with legos thinking about a hair cut. Thought about a canyon where I used to rock climb. Zoom meeting. imagined my little girl in kindergarten.