How Constant Digital Stimulation Is Killing The Important Art Of Boredom

It’s around 6.20 am, and I’m standing at the station waiting for my train to arrive. The screen informs me that the train is due, and I see the lights appear down the tracks as it makes its way around the bend.

I think to myself, it’s time for one last check on social media, as the thought of doing absolutely nothing but waiting for the next 20 seconds is absolutely terrifying.

 The phone is then shoved in my pocket as I board the train, only for it to be taken out again a few moments later after I’ve sat down in my seat. Social media feed refreshed, unsurprisingly, nothing interesting happened whilst I was boarding the train…

Thankfully, I can now go more than a few seconds without checking my phone, but for a long time, I considered this completely normal behaviour. Now, I notice others reaching for their phones in similar situations, for example, when they’re waiting for the lights to turn red before crossing the road.

For many people, any period of doing nothing at all, regardless of how short, in which they’re not scrolling, texting or consuming information through their devices, has seemingly become unbearable. This constant digital stimulation has actually killed something very important: the art of being bored.

Why Is Allowing Yourself To Be Bored Important?

Boredom allows you to sit with your own thoughts for a while, and this can lead to some pretty interesting developments. It might be uncomfortable at first, but if you can embrace boredom, you may just find that it will help you out in ways you were previously unaware of. It may feel like boredom has gone out of fashion, but below we look at the reasons why it needs to make a comeback:

Makes You More Creative

Often, your most creative thoughts and ideas will arrive when you’re not thinking of anything at all. By not allowing yourself to become distracted by a device, you can take inspiration from the environment you’re surrounded by or reignite a creative idea you had previously.

Some of the greatest forms of art have come from people who allowed themselves to be bored. William Wordsworth, for example, famously took long, solitary walks daily as he felt this put him in the best frame of mind to create poetry.

Furthermore, it’s well known that people have their most creative ideas in the shower, and we all know the main reason for this is that water and digital products don’t mix.

Can Help You Find Solutions To Problems

We all have problems, but in this age of relentless connection through our phones, do we ever give ourselves the chance to truly solve them?

If you’ve had something on your mind for a while, whether it concerns relationships, money or work, you may become a little closer to a solution by actually putting down your phone and allowing yourself to think it over.

You may establish that it isn’t as big a problem as you first thought and doesn’t require this much thought. Alternatively, you may decide that action is required, and you can therefore figure out what to do next.

Provides Opportunity For Introspection

Digital distractions have made it increasingly difficult to think introspectively. You are bombarded with what’s going on in other people’s lives, messages from friends and breaking stories from around the world, giving you little time to think of anything else.

Blocking out the noise from social media, WhatsApp, and 24-hour news can provide you with an opportunity to take stock. Embracing the peace of boredom will enable you to look inwards and start to question where you are in life, what you want to achieve and whether you’re on the right path to reach your goals.

Will Make Other Things In Your Life More Interesting

Allowing yourself to be bored from time to time will actually make things that you previously found tedious more interesting. You will notice this in relation to things like your work life, daily commute and other everyday tasks. Simple pleasures like the first coffee of the day and a walk in nature will also become even more enjoyable.  

All of a sudden, those short interactions and small details you notice when you’re going about your day become more significant and meaningful. You will be fully present and living in the moment, just as you were designed to be.

Final Thoughts

Allowing yourself to be bored in this digitally connected world can be easier said than done. It has become natural to pull out your phone, even to kill just a few seconds, and not think anything of it. I would encourage you, however, to give yourself a chance to be bored. Whether that’s in public or at home, the art of boredom is something we require to live a fulfilling life.