A Note On Boredom

In the past, boredom was an everyday occurrence that simply happened. Waiting at the bus stop, on the platform, on a train journey, in the waiting room, or lying in bed even though you weren’t tired yet.

Today, these little empty moments are becoming increasingly rare, because we almost always have the solution to boredom to hand. Most people quickly pull out their mobile phones; few reach for a book. It’s not that mobile phones have necessarily become more interesting, but rather that ‘nothing’ has now become uncomfortable, as we are otherwise constantly overstimulated by information.

We haven’t solved boredom. We’ve simply eliminated the moments when boredom could occur.

The Uncomfortable Part

At first, boredom feels quite unpleasant to the body. The brain desperately searches for something to cling to. People become restless, their thoughts wander, and suddenly a completely irrelevant notification becomes interesting. That’s why our devices are so incredibly effective at eliminating this state. Back then, a dead spot was essentially synonymous with our devices being largely useless (for the exciting stuff) at that moment. A lot has changed in this regard, particularly over the last decade. There’s free Wi-Fi almost everywhere; you can download content; and on top of that, there are factors such as endless feeds, autoplay, notifications, and so on.

This is by no means meant to be the typical ‘phone = bad’ argument, but simply an observation of the here and now. Many of these features have every right to exist, and in terms of content, there’s something for everyone on the internet.

The problem is not so much entertainment as the expectation that one must be entertained at all times.

What Happens After Nothing

If you don’t give in to that first unpleasant urge to consume something, something strange happens eventually. Your thoughts begin to wander. You recall seemingly random events from the past. They drift towards memories, observations, unanswered questions or possible futures. This kind of wandering thought is associated with the Default Mode Network (DMN).

The Default Mode Network is primarily involved in daydreaming, self-reflection, memory and imagining the future; therefore, boredom is not really ‘nothing’. It gives space to thoughts that have not been consciously chosen.

The Missing Space

One reason boredom can feel uncomfortable is that it leaves room for thoughts we might otherwise avoid. Without distractions, we’re more likely to end up pondering more important – or even more existential – questions about work, relationships, identity or meaning.

Prof. Dr A. C. Brooks argues that this discomfort is one reason why we are so quick to reach for our mobile phones. The mobile phone does not answer these questions, but it does prevent us from dwelling on them for long enough. When every spare moment is filled, we lack the space for self-reflection and creativity. Without these unoccupied moments, there may be less room to process feelings of emptiness, questions of meaning, or emerging creative thoughts.

It is often claimed that “this stupid phone” causes depression and/or anxiety, and yes, existential questions can fuel negative thoughts, but they cannot be explained solely by a lack of boredom. Prof. Dr A. C. Brooks sees this as one possible factor, not the sole cause.

Let It Be Boring

Boredom doesn’t necessarily have to be treated straight away as a problem that needs solving. It’s worth consciously allowing small moments to simply be: whilst waiting at the bus stop, at the traffic lights, on the train, or in bed.

Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at Harvard University, recommends incorporating periods of boredom lasting at least 15 minutes more frequently into one’s life.^[1] Some good friends of mine swear by a ‘dopamine detox’. Brooks argues that becoming more comfortable with boredom may also make us less easily bored by our work, our relationships, and the things happening around us.

However, it’s important not to jump straight into the next self-improvement task just because you’re bored. Just let it pass.

The aim isn’t to be more productive afterwards. It’s about learning to accept once again that not every moment needs to be filled with something. Boredom can create the conditions in which unexpected ideas emerge.

Perhaps boredom does not need to be justified by what subsequently arises from it.