Are You Missing the Upsides of Boredom?

Have you heard the saying, "Only boring people get bored"?

I call bullshit on that.

If I were to drop you in a classroom with my high school algebra teacher, you'd be guaranteed to get bored to death.

Sorry Mrs. Jacob.

I live with beautiful humans in the stunning landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand. My home is surrounded by native trees, with several nature walks right on my doorstep. Every day that I get to work my dream roles as a behavioural scientist, breathwork facilitator, and science-based writer is a blessing.

And, I'm five minutes away from the local surf beach frequently graced by dolphins.

Despite the abundance of things to be grateful for, I still need to do the boring tasks of sending client invoices and managing tax returns.

There's no escaping boredom. Sometimes, it captures us in the form of high school algebra, and at other times, it manifests as a late tax notice.

The path to creativity is free from distractions.

Boredom can be the piquing of interests and spark creativity.

Yet boredom is uncomfortable. And our world offers endless escapes.

Consider the creative genius of Matt Bellamy. He’s the frontman of the experimental English rock band — Muse.

His most creative bursts of songwriting often come unexpectedly, when he finds himself devoid of distractions. For example, during flight delays, Matt Bellamy becomes fully immersed in writing and produces some of the band’s best work.

Question: What’s the scariest thing in the world?

Answer: Going to a public toilet without your smartphone.

Gloria Mark, a prominent human-computer interaction (HCI) researcher, has documented a consistent decrease in attention spans from 2004 to 2020.

Her research reveals this compelling insight — individuals typically dedicate around merely 11 minutes to a project before succumbing to distractions. The process of returning to focus consumes roughly 26 minutes each day.

Read my article: Mastering Focus with Evidence-Based Practices

The purpose of experiencing boredom.

Boredom strikes unexpectedly while we're washing the dishes, waiting at the bus stop, or queuing for our morning coffee fix.

Why does the pattern of boredom constantly reemerge in our lives? Could it be serving a hidden psychological purpose?

Just as loneliness prompts us to go out and make social connections, boredom prompts us to live with more purpose.

The expression ‘bored to death’ holds the most overlooked upside of boredom.

In moments of boredom, the looming fear of death becomes pronounced. While washing the dishes, a sense of existential dread may creep in, making us feel as though we're squandering precious moments of our lives.

We fend off boredom with a constant stream of distractions, but this mental pattern persists.

We only realise the value of seemingly aimless activities when we take a moment to understand their hidden purpose. Often, these activities carry extreme significance. They embody the most noble behaviours.

Consider the practices of kindness, generosity, and silence. These behaviours exist in the shadow of time, where our significance seems fleeting.

In ordinary moments spent with a romantic partner or beside an ageing parent in the hospital, free from distractions, lies a chance for deeper connection. Embrace the passage of time with another person through long pauses and periods of silence, for they unveil the essence of being human.

Observe the profound connection that exists solely in the spaces in between.

Are we missing the immense purpose boredom holds both for ourselves and the people around us?

3 Practices to Cultive Boredom.

Try these practices to cultivate moments of boredom in your everyday life:

1. Freeform Observations: Find a serene spot outdoors or a chaotic street in your area. Quietly absorb your surroundings, without trying to achieve any particular outcome. This practice invites deep reflections, deepening your connection with whatever arises in the present moment.
2. Silent Dishwashing: Engage in dishwashing without external stimuli such as music or podcasts. Experience liberation from your mental worries during this routine activity by focusing on the textures of the dishes, the temperature of the water, and any other sensations in your body.
3. Mindful Waiting: Embrace stillness while waiting at a bus stop, for your takeaway coffee, or during an appointment with the doctor. Refrain from reaching for your phone or seeking distractions. These moments offer a chance for the creative quality of your mind to flow uninterrupted.

In this article, I've incorporated several inspiring ideas from the Minefield podcast episode, appropriately titled: What do we lose when we lose the capacity for boredom?

I highly recommend giving it a listen wherever you get your podcasts from.

.

Ready to dive deeper into neuroscience + behavioural science + yogic wisdom?

👉🏾 Get access to my FREE toolkit to think like a behavioural scientist.

👉🏾 Read a treasure trove of my personal neuroscience + yogic experiments on Substack.