Embracing Boredom in a World That Never Stops
It’s difficult for me to be idle. The closest I come to enjoying idle time is after supper when I settle in to veg on videos. Right up till that time, I’m almost always doing something productive. I kind of take it to a ridiculous extreme. I know I’m not alone in this. We tend to think of boredom as something negative or wasteful, and “hustle culture” has fed right into that. I think that boredom is often misunderstood. It can be the genesis of creativity, reflection, and personal growth. So, today I’m going to introduce the concept of embracing boredom.
What Boredom Really Is
Boredom is a temporary lack of stimulation or interest. I say “temporary” even though we can be bored for a long time (a two-hour lecture, for example), but eventually something will come along and capture our interest. It’s important, though, to distinguish between boredom and rest or relaxation. I also think that it’s worth exploring why our culture is so afraid of and avoids boredom. Part of it is probably conditioned into us with constant stimulation available with modern technology. Another part of it is the barrage of productivity chatter, leading us to feel that if we’re bored, we’re being lazy. Let’s look at it from a different angle.
The Hidden Benefits of Boredom
What we call “boredom” offers us several benefits that we might miss otherwise. The world has gotten too busy, and our attention spans have gotten too short, societally. Let’s examine some of the options that boredom offers us.
Creativity and Imagination
When we put our phones away and turn off all the noise, we give our minds the space to just wander. It is during these times of no intentional activity that we can really get creative, and it’s so much more than just artistic creativity. As we daydream, we may happen upon the solution to a problem. As your mind wanders, you may develop new artistic ideas. It’s no coincidence that many innovations have had their genesis in the shower.
Mental Rest and Reset
When we aren’t taxing our brains with constant work, we give them a chance to process the information already living there. That’s why many productive people engage in periodic “braindumps,” putting all those meandering thoughts and half-formed ideas down on paper. It gives the mind permission to stop trying to remember everything at once. That kind of mental downtime helps prevent burnout and decision fatigue.
Processing information is hard when the brain is always busy doing something else. Sitting quietly and not trying to “get stuff done” allows the mind to sift through the threads — much like Professor Dumbledore’s Pensieve. In that space, boredom can naturally lead to mindfulness and clearer priorities.
If you’ve never really thought about mindfulness, it can sound a little woo-woo or esoteric. It’s often associated with meditation, and for good reason: much of meditation is simply practicing mindfulness. At its core, mindfulness means pulling back from the noise of your thoughts and paying attention to where you are. It can be as simple as noticing your breath, feeling the sun on your skin, or becoming aware of small details you usually pass by.
When you allow that kind of awareness, it becomes easier to see what truly matters to you — and where those things actually fall in your life. Sometimes, it even helps you realize you deeply care about something that had faded into the background, almost like wallpaper.
Self-Reflection and Awareness
Not consciously trying to think of things provides us the opportunity to take notice of our thoughts and feelings. There’s a lot of value in putting labels on our feelings, but we can neglect that during busy periods. It can allow us time to actually feel those feelings, too, instead of having to push them aside so we can deal with the thing that caused them.
Motivation and Innovation
There’s a lot to be said for periods of discomfort, and boredom can be a form of discomfort. I find that if I turn the shower cooler than I like – not cold, but cooler – for the last minute or so, it can help jumpstart the creative juices. Boredom can do the same for me. Boredom can take you on a “what if” journey, opening your receptiveness to new experiences and challenges. Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity was born out of boredom during the Great Plague, and Albert Einstein used to daydream while working as a clerk in the US Patent Office. Mary Shelly, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien all developed storylines and settings during times of boredom or during mundane tasks.
Building Resilience and Patience
It can be difficult to sit with boredom, but it’s a valuable exercise. Doing so can help us develop a tolerance for quiet moments. Quiet is becoming a valuable commodity, but we can create it just by deciding to create it. This is especially valuable in a world of instant gratification. Learning to sit quietly can provide us with tools to stop and think before taking action or reacting to stimuli.
How to Embrace Boredom in Daily Life
Having conditioned ourselves to resist boredom, how do we then consciously embrace it? First, we have to commit ourselves to it. That will require breaking some old habits, and I have really struggled with this. It’s in my nature to want to be doing something all the time. I’ve found that setting aside some time, actually building it into my schedule, has been beneficial. Yoga and meditation lend themselves well to it. Settling into a commute without turning on the radio or podcasts offers such an opportunity as well. It can also work to engage in simple, repetitive tasks that allow your mind to wander. I discovered this while picking a crop of purple-hull peas, but ironing or folding laundry also works. Here’s something to remember: keep a notebook and pencil handy, because you’re going to have insights that you want to remember later. You might also consider keeping track of your experiences in a journal to see what you find as time goes by.
When Boredom Becomes Harmful
There’s a difference between intentional or occasional boredom and chronic disengagement. Be alert for the warning signs of apathy, lack of motivation, and depression – in yourself, and in those around you. Balance is very important, and you can learn to use boredom as a tool, rather than falling into stagnation.
Your Turn
Have you experienced periods of insightfulness, creativity, restfulness, or unusual self-awareness during a phase of boredom? I’d love to hear about it. I’ve shared a couple of mine, so share yours in the comments, please!
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