> We know that visualizing a positive outcome can be counter-productive... [...] Those who daydream ...

There should be made a distinction between daydream and visualization. Visualization in sports psychology is a very common technique that is widely used by athletes (amateur to top tier). I had also read about visualization/imagery having positive effects on motor recovery and performance.

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kwbr3000 16 hours ago | parent [-]

From https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-la...

Basically the idea is that your brain has a hard time telling the difference between the fantasy and reality and so you experience the reward which then sucks out the energy and drive needed to actually do the hard work.

	▲	1659447091 13 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> Basically the idea is that your brain has a hard time telling the difference between the fantasy and reality When it's "fantasy" the experience of reward "sucks out the energy and drive". I'm referring to there being a difference between fantasy/daydream and mental visualization as the deliberate construction of detailed mental imagery of a desired performance or outcome [0] When you do it while lost in fantasy it's not deliberate, but when it's an intentional process it becomes beneficial. The brain having a hard time telling the difference between real and imagined is neutral, the how and intention behind that imagined activation tells if the outcome is positive or depleting [0] https://www.simplypsychology.com/articles/visualization-tech...