In my free time, while thinking with no goal in mind, I have observed three levels of what goalless thinking can look like, which might be common to others.

The shallowest and most commonly encountered I call “monkey” thinking. It is thinking easily distracted, where I hectically jump from topic to topic, switching focus based on what came up last. This, unfortunately, is too familiar for some, where one easily gets distracted and procrastinates.

The second is usually a distraction-less state, in which one concentrates only on select conscious thoughts, while still not having an overarching goal. As a form of longer-term thinking, I see it as a “planning” state. This is arguably the most productive state of the three, as the focus is on the currently important.

Finally, a mindful meditative-like state with the now (the current moment) as its focus. This is the deepest level of thinking and I consider it the hardest to achieve. It goes beyond not only distractions but beyond our temptations to plan the future or dwell in the past either. Personally, I see this state as underappreciated and consciously try to wander in this state more.