Why Boredom Is Good for Your Brain
Words by Christine Warner
“I’m bored” is never said with enthusiasm or excitement. It’s usually said with a helpless sigh, frustrated groan, or exasperated eye roll. No one wants to be bored.
We do what we can to avoid boredom, keeping our days booked with work, meetings, sports, clubs, events, parties, dates, errands, chores, and so on. When we have downtime, we turn to distractions like social media, podcasts, Netflix, reading, or texting to occupy our minds. Why do we dislike boredom so much? Because we associate being bored with being unsatisfied.
Philosopher Andreas Elpidorou, author of Propelled: How Boredom, Frustration, and Anticipation Lead Us to the Good Life, explained, “Being bored means that we are currently engaged not only in an uninteresting or unchallenging situation, but also in a situation that fails to meet our expectations and desires.”
But here’s how boredom can actually be good for your brain:
It motivates you to take action.
We should reject the idea that boredom is bad. It can actually help us break out of undesirable or unhealthy situations. Elpidorou shared, “In the absence of boredom, one would remain trapped in unfulfilling situations, and miss out on many emotionally, cognitively, and socially rewarding experiences.” Because we are dissatisfied when bored, wishing we were doing something more rewarding, we are motivated to pursue a better situation.
Because boredom motivates us, it can also make us more productive. Elpidorou shared, “Boredom acts as a force that motivates us to pursue a goal that appears to us to be more stimulating, interesting, challenging, or fulfilling than the goal that we currently pursue.” For example, if you are feeling unfulfilled at work, your boredom drives you to pursue a more stimulating role. If you are unsatisfied with an aspect of a relationship, you are motivated to change it or move on.
It leads to creative thinking.
When we emerge from boredom, we are more capable of being creative. Without distractions, our minds have the freedom to wander and daydream. In a study by psychologist Sandi Mann, people were asked to come up with creative ideas after reading something boring. The people who had the most boring read (a phone book) demonstrated the most creativity. Mann concluded that the more bored we are, the more likely we are to daydream, which is proven to inspire creativity.
A neurological study found that the daydreams and subconscious thoughts that happen when we are bored lead to creative solutions. The study’s lead author Kaline Christoff said, "When you daydream, you may not be achieving your immediate goal — say reading a book or paying attention in class — but your mind may be taking that time to address more important questions in your life, such as advancing your career or personal relationships." So daydreaming can help us solve problems.
It forces you to be vulnerable.
Boredom makes us vulnerable to reality. As our minds roam, thoughts arise that we usually suppress with busyness. Maybe we’re mourning a broken relationship, dealing with self-doubt, ashamed of an addiction, or unhappy with our state in life. Escaping boredom helps us escape that reality. Vulnerability makes us uncomfortable, exposing our deepest wounds to ourselves or others. Yet the discomfort of vulnerability leads to personal growth and positive change.
Elpidorou stated, “Boredom is both a warning that we are not doing what we want to be doing and a 'push' that motivates us to switch goals and projects." It brings up things we want to change in our lives — emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual — and we have no choice but to face them and work through them. The complex challenges and struggles in our lives can be overwhelming and paralyzing, but as Christoff discovered, boredom can lead us to creative and productive solutions.
Of course, this isn’t an argument in favor of laziness — it’s an argument in favor of shifting our perspective on boredom. Acknowledging the benefits it brings to our brains can help us embrace this seemingly undesirable state. It’s also important to realize that boredom is not the same as relaxation. When we are relaxing, we are content. When we are bored, we are discontent. The unsettled feeling that comes with boredom is what leads to motivation, creativity, and vulnerability.
About the Author:
Christine Warner is a marketer and writer living in Detroit. Her marketing experience includes working for brands like Uber, Samsung, Walgreens, and Dignity Health; she writes for publishers like Verily Magazine, Aleteia, Brandingmag, and Content Standard. Christine currently works for the Archdiocese of Detroit as the director of marketing. Connect with her on Twitter @cvwarner or on Instagram @christinevwarner.
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