Using Your Boredom for Creativity
Have you ever come up with a really great idea because you were bored and wanted to do something fun? It may come as a surprise, but being bored can actually be good for us and we can even use it to our advantage to spark our creativity and get productive (according to a study published in the Academy of Management Discoveries).
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What is boredom?
Boredom isn’t just what we feel when we have nothing to do, because, let’s be honest, there’s always something to be done on our long list of to-do’s. In fact, boredom is the feeling we get when the activities presented to us don’t appeal to us right now. In other words, our brains are not stimulated in the way we want it to be, so we search for something else.
Boredom sparks creativity
When outward activities don’t provide that satisfaction we desire, we then begin to look inward: into our minds. We daydream and let our thoughts wander. Maybe you’ve had these moments happen to you without even realizing: having a great idea when you’re driving in the car, or taking a shower, or right before falling asleep. These are everyday situations when our minds are normally idle and relaxed, which allows our brains to get creative.
Boredom is good for your mental health
In a time where we are constantly surrounded by digital screens, social media, and online notifications, it can get very difficult to get away from it all. In fact, the moment we begin to feel bored, it’s like our minds and hands instinctively reach out for our phones to scroll through Instagram and TikTok, or Youtube. But constantly exposing yourself to social media and various other online apps can be detrimental to your mental health.
But being bored and allowing yourself to daydream actually gives your mind a break. Think of it like giving time for your brain to rest and recharge from a hard day at work or information overload on social media.
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Boredom boosts productivity
Although we like to see boredom as un-productivity, it can actually do the opposite and boost our productivity. A study conducted in 2018 found that a group of people who had first completed a boring task (sorting a bowl of beans by color) later performed better on an idea-generating task than the group who didn’t. The task was to come up with reasons for being late to work, and the group who had first completed a boring activity outperformed the other group both in idea quantity and quality.
So the next time you are in need of a good idea for a project, try being bored for a little bit
Boredom helps us focus
When we allow ourselves to be bored and choose to stay in our boredom, we are building up a tolerance for boredom and thereby, increasing our ability to focus. We are so used to doing something new the moment we begin to feel bored, that we have developed very short attention spans. (Example: we like our information fed to us quickly and easily, because reading long paragraphs takes too much time and focus).
When we are able to sit in our discomfort for a period of time, we are training our brains to be comfortable in mentally unpleasant or unsatisfying experiences. As we do that, we are increasing our levels of concentration—to be able to stay in an activity and not go to another activity the moment we feel bored.
Getting bored the “right” way
Although being bored can help us relax, it’s important not to confuse “boredom” with “relaxation.” Activities like yoga and meditation can be relaxing, but most would not define it as “boring.”
Try to find an activity that requires little or no concentration—like walking a familiar route, sitting with your eyes closed outdoors, etc.—and avoid having technology or music to stimulate your brains. And then, simply let your mind wander.
We shouldn’t fear or avoid boredom. In fact, we can enjoy it and reap many benefits from being bored. So the next time you’re in a grueling meeting, resist the urge to scroll through your phone. Let yourself be bored. You never know what great ideas might come out of your boring moments.
