Ah, boredom. That dreaded void of existential despair that creeps in when your phone battery dies, the Wi-Fi crashes, or you’ve already doom-scrolled through every possible social media app three times in a row. The horror! We have become a species that would rather endure 10,000 unskippable ads on YouTube than sit alone with our own thoughts for a single moment. But here’s the hot take you didn’t ask for: boredom is actually good for you. Yep, that’s right. The thing you try so hard to avoid might just be the secret sauce to a more fulfilling life.
Boredom: It’s Not Just for Kids in Math Class
So, what exactly is boredom? Is it an outdated human relic that modern technology should have erased by now? Not quite. According to philosophy professor Lars Svendsen, boredom is that annoying little nudge from your brain telling you that what you’re doing is meaningless. And before you cry, "But Netflix is meaningful to me!"—no, it’s not. Not really. Watching a 16-hour true crime documentary binge about a serial killer from the ‘80s isn’t going to enrich your soul (unless your soul is weird like that).
Psychologist James Danckert describes boredom as a motivational state—your mind’s way of saying, Hey, buddy, this ain’t it. Find something better to do. The problem? We don’t listen. Instead, we panic and reach for our phones, numbing that discomfort with another TikTok of a cat playing a tiny piano.
Boredom Is a Call to Action (But You Keep Hitting ‘Ignore’)
Here’s the thing: boredom is not the enemy. It’s actually a helpful little nudge from your brain that screams, DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL. The issue is that we don’t recognize it as an opportunity—we just see it as a glitch in the entertainment matrix.
Remember when you were a kid and had nothing to do? What did you do next? Maybe you built a pillow fort, tried (and failed) to juggle apples, or created a weird dance routine that no one should ever have to witness. That, my friends, is called creativity. Adults, on the other hand, just sit there refreshing their inbox and complaining about how busy they are.
Boredom is the ultimate test of how interesting you are as a person. Can you sit in an empty room for an hour and entertain yourself without a screen? If not, congratulations, you’re as exciting as a wet paper towel.
Your Phone Is Stealing Your Best Ideas (And Your Sanity)
When was the last time you let your mind wander? Not the kind of wandering where you mentally replay an embarrassing thing you said in 2009, but actual, free-range, oh-wow-I-just-invented-a-new-sandwich thinking? Probably never, because as soon as that moment of blank space arrives, you snatch your phone like it’s an emotional support animal.
Experts say that your brain needs downtime to function properly. That means staring at the ceiling, doodling on a napkin, or doing absolutely nothing without guilt. But instead of embracing that, we fill every single second with digital distractions. And you wonder why you can’t focus on reading an actual book anymore.
How to Use Boredom Without Becoming a Hermit
Alright, so maybe you’re willing to let yourself be bored for five whole minutes without reaching for your phone. Good for you! Here are some ways to actually make the most of it:
Reframe Boredom as a Gift (Not a Curse)
The next time you feel bored, instead of whining about it, think: What is this feeling trying to tell me? Maybe your job sucks. Maybe your routine is suffocating. Maybe you need to go outside and actually touch some grass. Use boredom as a diagnostic tool to figure out what’s missing in your life.Stop Defaulting to Your Phone
Set a rule: when you’re standing in line, waiting for food, or in a situation where you’d normally scroll aimlessly, just…don’t. Look around. People-watch. Make awkward small talk. Maybe even gasp let your mind wander.Create Instead of Consume
Instead of watching yet another 2-hour podcast about productivity (ironic), actually do something productive. Doodle. Journal. Write a terrible poem. Rearrange your furniture for the 17th time. Your brain craves active engagement, not passive scrolling.Let Yourself Daydream
Studies show that daydreaming actually boosts creativity and problem-solving skills. So the next time you zone out, don’t snap yourself back to reality—let your mind take you wherever it wants. Who knows? You might just invent the next big thing (or, at the very least, a killer lasagna recipe).Do Something Tedious on Purpose
Wash dishes without a podcast. Walk without music. Fold laundry without a TV show playing in the background. See what thoughts bubble up when you aren’t drowning them in constant stimulation.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Boredom, You Coward
At the end of the day, you can either use boredom as an excuse to waste more time or as a tool to make your life better. The choice is yours. But if you keep numbing yourself with distractions, don’t be surprised when your life starts feeling just as empty as your Netflix queue at 2 AM.
So go ahead. Be bored. Stare at the wall. Let your brain actually think for once. You might just be surprised at what it comes up with.