You're Not Crazy For Talking To Yourself: In Fact, Science Says You're Brilliant
Do you talk to yourself? I do. In fact, I'm doing it right now as I write this piece. I did it before I wrote this piece, and I'll do it after I write this piece. Talking to myself keeps my thoughts inline and keeps me balanced. It's just a system that I've adhered to my whole life, but never had a reason to do so. Well, I'm in luck, and if you answered that initial question "yes" so are you: science now reveals that people who do talk to themselves may be geniuses. So speak up–when alone.
Talking activates a sensory mechanism helping you visualize the word. It's like writing something down is better than taking a mental snapshot. You need to make your brain work for it to, well, work. When you say it out loud there is more of a memory to come back to. This is a technique I use when discussing plans for the day. Reciting them aloud before getting started reminds me what I need to do later when I'm feeling lost.
Saying the word aloud puts a picture in your mind, which helps your brain stay attached to the task at hand. Say for instance you're looking for something you've lost. So, saying the name of the object in question means your mind will continue picturing the object and help your eyes keep an eye out for it. If you don't say it aloud, you'll easily get sidetracked by other objects you'll see.
Psychologist Linda Sapadin said:
"It helps you clarify your thoughts, tend to what’s important and firm up any decisions you are contemplating."
If you don't take the time to talk yourself through decisions, major and minor alike, you'll find yourself always making frivolous calls. This could ultimately lead to making a detrimental mistake, which could easily be avoided if you'd just talked to yourself.