The Virtues of Being Bored

School is out and it’s common to hear an endless loop of “I’m bored.” I’m sure that’s why so many folks keep their kids very busy during the summer, and year-round for that matter. But is scheduling to fill a day, whether for kids or adults, a good thing? What if you let yourself be bored every now and then?

Experts are beginning to see the benefits of boredom for all ages. Not all-the-time boredom, but just that here-today-gone-tomorrow type

Taking time for boredom is good for your creative self, yet many of us can’t unplug from our phones, or even just take some quiet time. In short, we don’t allow ourselves to be bored. Boredom has negative connotations. We feel like we aren’t contributing unless we’re doing something – responding to emails, checking social, working on a word puzzle, cleaning house. The truth is that taking time out can help you brainstorm, spark your creativity, and be more productive.

Here’s how boredom works. When we don’t feel stimulated by what we’re doing, our brain steps in and says “I’m going to find a way to feel stimulated.” So when you allow that boredom, when you allow the mind to wander, the area of the brain that is responsible for creativity and problem solving kicks in.

Oftentimes when we’re bored, the first thing we do is reach for a device, yet to see the benefits of boredom – the creativity and problem-solving – it’s imperative not to. In fact, doing so just exacerbates the problem. That’s because we’re not allowing our mind to resolve the boredom. Without that wandering mind, creating new ways out of boredom, it becomes more and more difficult for the brain to go there.

Of course I had to test this theory, so I sat down in the middle of a Saturday just to sit. No scrolling, no reading, no napping, not even meditating. When my husband asked me what I was doing, I said “researching.” I just sat and let my mind wander like a feral cat – no destination in mind, no holding back, no plans. Lo and behold, it worked! I found a creative solution to a rather big conundrum, one that will make our lives a whole heck of a lot easier.

So the next time you hear “I’m bored!” either from your kids or your own inner voice, invite in the boredom. Encourage your kids and yourself to get comfortable with it, to sit with it (quite literally, if needed). Boredom allows your brain to exercise those creativity and problem-solving muscles, so it comes up with solutions easier next time. It’s, once again, all about mindfulness really. After all, boredom is just another emotion, and part of being mindful is getting comfortable with your emotions.