Being Bored Makes You More Creative, Sexier and Smarter
Unlock Boredom’s Hidden Benefits: From Creativity to Self-Discovery
Boredom has frequently been villainised — parents go to great lengths to keep their children entertained, and as adults, we actively avoid it. We’ve evolved to such an extent that we now carry boredom busters around with us wherever we go in the form of the devices we are glued to from the minute we wake up to the moment we go to sleep.
However, recent studies suggest that boredom might be beneficial. In their book “Out of My Skull — The Psychology of Boredom,” James Danckert and John Eastwood explain that boredom can be an opportunity for us to connect with our true desires by identifying what matters to us.
They argue that boredom can push us to seek out new experiences and challenge our existing perspectives, leading to breakthrough creativity. This is because boredom can create a state of cognitive dissonance, an uncomfortable feeling caused by a disparity between our current situation and our desired state. This discomfort can motivate us to find new ways of thinking and behaving.
When we’re bored, we’re more open to new experiences and learning opportunities. This is because boredom can make us feel restless and dissatisfied with our current state, driving us to seek out new challenges and experiences. Moreover, boredom increases our receptivity to new information and ideas. Research has even shown that boredom can enhance our long-term memory.
Instead of confronting this unpleasant sensation, many people seek superficial escapes like social media. Unfortunately, this avoidance strategy can lead to unhealthy behaviours, including excessive eating, substance abuse, and even smoking.
Instead of suppressing the discomfort caused by boredom, we should actively analyse what it’s telling us. Boredom can be a valuable indicator that we need a change or a lack of fulfilment in our lives. By addressing the underlying causes of boredom, we can avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms and promote overall well-being.
How to Embrace Boredom:
1. Digital detox: Don’t need to go completely offline (although you can make an adventure out of it). When your friend goes to the restroom, resist the urge to whip out your phone. One of the green flags I sought when dating was someone who didn’t scroll on their phone while I was away. The ability to sit alone for a few minutes without the social crutch of your phone is sexy.
2. Embrace no signal: Can you relate to the desperate need to connect to Wi-Fi on the subway? Challenge yourself to sit and do nothing for three stops, then four, and so on. Notice how you feel when you arrive at your destination, more ready to engage in engaging, sparkling conversations. Again — boredom can make you sexier.
3. Take work breaks: We’ve all skipped lunch or claimed to be “too busy to go to the bathroom.” Unless you’re saving lives, this is unlikely. Take a five-minute break between tasks and let your mind rest.
4. Stop multitasking: I have a weekly team meeting where everyone provides an update, but almost everyone misses their name being called because they’re “double-tasking” — working in the background. The purpose of the meeting is to give the team an overview of everyone else’s work, but no one is listening, so we’re all just providing updates into the void and missing an opportunity to connect.
Additionally, multitasking can be more harmful than beneficial. Research suggests that, despite popular belief, multitasking is not the key to productivity. Instead, focusing on one task at a time can enhance cognitive function, academic performance, and overall memory consolidation.
So the next time you feel the itch of boredom creeping up on you, running away from it and reaching for your phone, sit with it for a while and see what comes up, you might be the next Hemmingway, Taylor Swift or Damien Hirst just waiting to be bored for the creativity to take hold.
