How The Digital World Killed 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 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, and the scrolling ensues.

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 boredom.

What Has Made Doing Nothing So Unbearable?

When was the last time you just sat and did absolutely nothing? No scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, no watching Netflix, checking emails or trying to be productive for the sake of it. Just you, no screens, no noise, no hustle.   

Doing nothing sounds easy, right? However, the reality is that just sitting without any distractions, digital or otherwise, has become unbearable for many. I’ve already written about how we’ve lost the important art of boredom, but what are the reasons for this?

Why can’t we remain in peace, with our own thoughts, even for just a few minutes, without reaching for our phones or filling the time with a task? Below, I explain how doing nothing has become unbearable for so many of us:

Smartphones & Digital Devices

Most of us carry our Smartphones around 24/7. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, we quickly turn to phones to relieve boredom. Scrolling through social media provides us with addictive dopamine hits, ensuring we now turn to our phones without even thinking about it.

Our home environments are also set up as something of a “tech trap”, never allowing for any respite from constant digital stimulation of some kind or other. For example, it’s not uncommon for people to consume information on phones, tablets and TVs all at the same time!

Hustle Culture

The content we are consuming on these devices doesn’t help either, sending our minds into overdrive and ensuring we’re never truly able to switch off. I believe one of the negative developments has been “hustle culture”, a movement which promotes constant busyness and productivity.

From the 4 a.m. workouts to evening and weekend side hustles, those in support of “Rise and Grind” believe every second of every day should be filled with something. Tied into this is online self-improvement content and how it’s easy to feel you’re not enough when you’re just trundling along whilst everyone else appears to be “smashing it”.

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. Boredom permits you to use your imagination and get your creative juices flowing.

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.