Do people even get bored anymore now that we have our little rectangular computers that we carry in our pockets everywhere? YES–we even sometimes get bored with scrolling and commenting on our friends’ social media posts (but this only comes after spending a whole lot of time doing these things).
And certainly by the dog days of August, we’re all feeling a little bored with the heat. Kids are a little bored from being on summer break. Parents are bored of listening to their kids fighting or trying to entertain them during the summer break.
Boredom gets a bad rap, but it is really beneficial to our mental health and intellectual development. When we’re bored, our brains wander and this actually relaxes our brains (even though we might feel a little anxious at the idea of just doing nothing). Our brains get an opportunity to reset.
But how do we allow ourselves to be bored when we have games, videos, and songs at our fingertips at all times? It isn’t easy since these things give our brains little hits of dopamine over and over again. But scrolling for hours online tires our brains out, so we need to periodically give ourselves a break.
Here are some boring suggestions to help you benefit from boredom:
- Turn off the radio or audiobook while driving. Your mind will wander. If you have children in the car, make some of the driving times with them “device-free” events so that they can just look outside, pay attention to the world, and daydream.
- Take a walk in nature without plugging in. (Keep your phone for safety and security, but don’t access it while you walk.)
- Sit and stare at a tree or watch a bird for 10 minutes. If 10 minutes is too much, try for five, or three.
- Engage in a physical activity that doesn’t require thought. Dig in your garden, stuff envelopes for an organization, or dust your miniblinds.
- Take a shower or a bath and stay for an extra few minutes.
- Remind yourself that boredom is not a waste of time. It is where dreams come from. Boredom allows space for dreams to float to the tops of our minds and the confidence to take action.
Whatever you do, give yourself the gift of boredom if only for a few minutes every day.