If we suppose that this is true not just for us, but for every human being, then it is fair to say that the minds of seven billion people are churning more or less without direction for at least five or six hours every day, and probably much more, generating thoughts, making decisions, and motivating actions.

This would amount to a total of roughly forty billion mind-hours lost in generating idle thoughts, planning for the future, indulging fantasies, chewing on resentments, coping with desires, fretting over worries, awash in emotionality, obsessing over concerns, frozen in fear, or spiraling into depression and despair.

This amounts to some 60,000 entire human life times each day that are not engaged in productive activities.

Assuming that thoughts tend to manifest in ways that influence others, such erratic mental activity must have far-reaching effects. 

Revelations of Mind