4 Ways Embracing Boredom Can Actually Increase Productivity and Creativity
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When was the last time you were really, truly bored? We’re talking no phone, no computer, no e-reader or books, just you and your thoughts and nothing else bored. The kind of boredom that seeps into you and permeates every part of yourself from the crown of your head to the tips of your toes, the boredom that makes you feel heavy and lethargic, the boredom that seems inescapable.
If you’re like most of us, it’s probably been a while--maybe even since you were a kid.
You might also be like many people and think that boredom is useless or a sign of laziness, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Boredom, it turns out, is an essential tool in living a life filled with creativity and effective problem-solving.
Why Boredom Matters
One of the highest profile pieces of writing on this subject over the last several years is Manoush Zomorodi’s book Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self. In it, she makes the argument that time for boredom is essential for your brain to rest, make connections, and process information in a way that allows you to think effectively and creatively. She’s not alone in that belief.
Experts have long recommended that when you’re learning something new or doing heavy brain work, you should take periodic breaks to let your brain rest and recharge. That’s because during times of rest, when you’re not feeding it constant stimulation, your brain works to process new information, sort it, connect it to old information, and form long-term memories with it.
In fact, your brain relies on those quiet times to come up with new ideas and see how old ones all fit together. If you’re constantly pouring more information into it, your brain never gets the chance to do the sorting and categorizing it needs to function at its full potential.
And it’s not just creative thinking that benefits from boredom. Studies show that allowing yourself to be bored can be good for your mental health, too. That’s because when you’re bored, you tend to daydream, and when you daydream, you come up with wonderful, fantastic worlds and ideas that make you feel happy or at peace.
How to Get Really Bored
The Myrth team are big fans of getting out into nature and away from screens for some inspiration and focused thinking time. Without external stimuli like the notifications from our phones, we find we’re able to clear our minds and let them wander where they will.
But you don’t have to go far away to let your brain do its thing. Here are our favorite tips and tricks for getting a regular dose of good old-fashioned boredom.
Schedule the time. Block off a chunk of time on your calendar (we like to have at least 30 mins) and make sure nobody is going to interrupt you. If you can go somewhere to be alone or lock a door, so much the better.
Turn off distractions. That means shut off your cell phone completely, and your computer, too. If you have a landline, turn off the ringer, set it to go straight to voicemail, or unplug it. Put away all the things you fidget with and use to keep yourself distracted.
Get comfortable. Boredom can be emotionally uncomfortable, especially at first, so there’s no need to be physically uncomfortable while you’re at it. Wear comfortable clothes if you can, prop your feet up if you’d like, stretch out on the floor if that feels good. If you’re using walking as a way to induce boredom, make sure you’re going alone and that you’re not listening to podcasts or audiobooks or the news while you’re out and about. Remember: the goal is to remove as much external entertainment for your brain as possible.
Settle in. Whether you’re choosing to sit still somewhere or take a solo walk, the only way to get there is to start. Have a seat or take your first step, and then keep going. Let your mind relax and wander. See where it takes you.
After a good dose of boredom, you’ll probably find yourself brimming with ideas or questions. Take a few minutes to jot them down so you don’t lose them! Your brain is for generating ideas, not for storage. And the next time someone tells you how bored they are, respond with “Yes ain’t it great!”
Have you intentionally given yourself time to be bored? What did you do? Leave us a comment and share!
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