Bad Deal: Five Things You Are Trading for Noise
Dr. Chris Hobbs
Head of School at Indian Rocks Christian School ? ‘24 Colson Fellow ? ‘23 Baylor Center for School Leadership Fellow ? ‘19 BSN Sports Natn’l HS AD of the Year ? Insights on life, leadership, & learning
When was the last time you were honestly bored?
Probably not recently. Our lives are filled with endless scrolling, streaming, and notifications that keep boredom at bay. But here’s the problem: creativity thrives in boredom.
It takes 15 minutes of doing nothing for your brain to start thinking creatively—making connections, solving problems, and seeing the world differently. Yet, we rarely allow ourselves that silence. Pastor Kevin DeYoung says, “We are always engaged with our thumbs but rarely engaged with our thoughts.”?
Ryan Holiday warns that we are drowning in information, making it hard to think clearly or find peace. The noise demands a trade-off; whether you realize it or not, you’re making a bad deal.
The 5 Things You’re Trading for Noise
1?? Your Purpose Watching others live their lives online won’t help you live yours. Dallas Willard said, ‘As water is made to run downhill, we were made to matter.’ You were made to matter—not be famous, but meaningful.?
2?? Your Presence with People We criticize teenagers for always being on their phones, yet parents are just as guilty. The people who feel the absence of your attention the most are the ones who matter the most. Look up. Be present.
3?? Your Productivity Ever opened your phone to do something meaningful and ended up mindlessly jumping between apps? Noise is stealing your focus. Reclaim it.
4?? Your Peace Your mind is like a stomach—if you constantly consume without processing, you’ll get sick. A noisy life leads to mental exhaustion. Make space for stillness.
5?? Your Priorities Want to know what you truly value? Look at your daily actions. Don’t let distractions shape your life. Take control of your time and energy.
The Challenge: Embrace the Silence
what matters most for the noise that doesn’t.
Keep on, keepin' on, friends!
Start small: ? Set a 15-minute boredom break—no screens, no distractions. Just let your mind wander. ? Turn off notifications—control when you engage with your phone. ? Prioritize real moments—be present with your purpose, people, and peace.
Don’t trade away what matters most for the noise that doesn’t.
Keep on, keepin' on, friends!