Embrace Boredom: How Doing Nothing Can Lead to Everything

When was the last time you truly paused? Looked up at the night sky and wondered at the moon, or stopped to observe the roots of a large tree spreading quietly into the earth? When did you last watch a bird soar through the air without checking your phone mid-thought?

A recent study published in Communications Psychology indicates a growing epidemic of boredom, significantly linked to the use of digital media. Despite the abundance of entertainment content, reports of boredom have surged, especially since 2009. The study reveals increased boredom among U.S. secondary school students (2010-2017) and Chinese college students (2009-2020).

Digital media heightens boredom by offering intense stimulation that diminishes interest in less stimulating activities. It also fragments attention, constantly pulling users’ focus from one task or application to another, making it harder for individuals to focus on single tasks. The result is decreased satisfaction and engagement, ultimately contributing to increased boredom.

But the question remains: why don’t we use boredom to our advantage?

In today’s world, we have a constant need to be doing “something important,” always trying to “add value to our lives,” chasing deadlines, and often creating new ones where none are needed. Boredom is thus the enemy. We fill every empty moment with distractions—scrolling through newsfeeds, watching videos, or answering emails. The idea of sitting alone with our thoughts, doing nothing, is almost terrifying. But this fear of boredom robs us of something precious: space—space for creativity, reflection, and new ideas to emerge.

The Hidden Power of Boredom

While we’re afraid of being by ourselves, let’s explore four instances from history where creative thinkers used boredom to their advantage:

• Van Gogh’s Starry Night: During his time in an asylum, Van Gogh turned the monotony of his days into a masterpiece. His boredom allowed him to reimagine the night sky as a swirling tapestry of emotion and light.

• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: One rainy summer during a trip to Lake Geneva, Mary Shelley and her companions were confined indoors, bored and restless. Out of this idleness, she conceived one of literature’s greatest creations.

• Dr. James Naismith’s Invention of Basketball: Diary entries and historical records confirm that Dr. James Naismith created basketball to entertain bored students indoors during long, harsh winters. The sport, born from idleness, eventually became a global phenomenon.
• Rodin’s The Thinker: The iconic sculpture, though not a direct reference to boredom, epitomizes the essence of stillness. Rodin found inspiration in human emotions and thought, transforming it into art that challenges us to reflect.

The theory is simple: when the mind wanders, it connects ideas in unexpected ways.

Science Agrees: Boredom Sparks Creativity

Research suggests that boredom stimulates creativity.

According to a 2019 study in Psychological Science, allowing the mind to wander during periods of boredom can help people come up with solutions to challenging problems. A study in Behavioral Sciences (2017) revealed that boredom provides a unique opportunity for self-reflection. When people are bored, they are more likely to think about their long-term goals and values. This can help them refocus and prioritize what matters most in life.

Embrace Boredom

Boredom gives you the space to check in with yourself, to know your feelings, your desires, and your needs. These are questions we rarely pause to ask. Instead, we look to others—seeking validation, direction, or even comfort—forgetting that the most authentic answers can only come from within.

The power of boredom can be seamlessly woven into your day if you allow your mind to wander during those in-between moments.

• You have a few minutes before your next meeting? Don’t scroll through your phone—just look around.
• You’re waiting for dinner to be ready? Take a moment to observe your surroundings.
• Commuting? Let your thoughts flow without the distraction of a screen.

The Final Thought

Instead of fearing or fighting boredom, try embracing it. Let your mind wander. Observe the world around you. These moments of stillness allow you to reconnect with yourself and be your own best friend—because no one else can do that job better than you.

What’s your experience with boredom? Has it ever led to a breakthrough or moment of clarity? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear them.

#Creativity #Productivity #PersonalDevelopment #Mindfulness

Sources:

1. "Fast-Forward to Boredom: How Switching Behavior on Digital Media Makes People More Bored" Authors: Katy Y. Y. Tam and Michael Inzlicht Published in: Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, August 2024 Link: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xge-xge0001639.pdf
2. "If You’d Love to Create Something, Let It Go" Published by: Association for Psychological Science Date: April 2021 Link: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/love-to-create-something-let-it-go
3. "The Unexpected Value of Boredom for Well-Being and Creativity" Published in: Psychology Today, June 2022 Link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tracking-wonder/202206/the-unexpected-value-boredom-well-being-and-creativity
4. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Introduction, 1831 Edition) Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/84/84-h/84-h.htm; https://www.history.com/news/frankenstein-true-story-mary-shelley
5. Auguste Rodin's The Thinker Link: https://www.ft.com/content/e407cc76-2674-406b-86cb-8a62c63142d6
6. The Letters of Vincent van Gogh Link: https://www.vangoghletters.org/vg/letters.html
7. Sam Vaknin’s YouTube Channel on Psychology and Philiosophy Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/samvaknin