Boredom isn’t a flaw. It’s the mind’s way of nudging you into deeper thinking about life, purpose, and possibly think about who you want to be.

1. Boredom Unlocks the Default Mode Network (DMN)

  • In You Need to Be Bored. Here’s Why, Harvard’s Arthur C. Brooks says boredom isn’t a bug but a feature. When we let our minds wander, the brain’s default mode network springs into action steering us toward questions of meaning and purpose instead of endless phone scrolling (Harvard Business Review, Veritasium).
  • Brooks shares a striking study: many people would rather give themselves a mild electric shock than sit alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes. That says how deeply we resist boredom (Harvard Business Review).

Boredom creates mental space to question, reflect, and reconnect. You’re stepping into something meaningful, not escaping.

2. Creativity, Problem-Solving, Novelty and Even Altruism

Phew that took a bit of googling.

  • Creativity: Boredom gives imagination room to breathe. A study in Psychology Today showed that mundane tasks encouraged mind‑wandering, prompting creative thinking (Psychology Today).
  • Novelty & Goals: Researchers suggest boredom pushes us to seek new challenges and set more fulfilling goals (Psychology Today).
  • Altruism: Some studies even link boredom with increased prosocial behaviour like volunteering or helping others because we’re searching for meaning (The B-Town (Burien) Blog).

Boredom is a nebula where it sparks ideas, ambitions, and even goodwill.

3. It Calms the Mind and Mental Health Gains

  • Boredom offers a break from over-stimulation. Stepping away from screens can reduce stress and let the brain reset (Psychology Today, TIME).
  • A Time article notes that sorting beans by colour, a famously dull task led people to generate better ideas afterwards than those who did something engaging first (TIME).
  • According to Wikipedia, while boredom is often seen negatively, research suggests it’s vital for imaginative breakthroughs (Wikipedia).

Boredom restores your mental equilibrium, and can make you sharper, not duller.

4. The Digital Doom-Loop

  • Brooks pinpoints a cultural habit: we reflexively treat idle moments as crises—and reach for our phones. That constant stimulation blocks reflection and fuels anxiety or depression (Harvard Business Review).
  • One Reddit commenter puts it bluntly: “By constantly scrolling, we prevent our brains from getting bored, which is the only way to figure out our true purpose and meaning in life” (Reddit).

Screens are the enemy of boredom’s benefits. You’ve got to resist the urge to fill every second with distraction.

5. Practical Tips: How to Get Bored (Intentionally)

  • Try screen curfews: Brooks avoids phones after 7 pm, doesn’t sleep with his phone, and clears devices at meals (Harvard Business Review).
  • Build up to it: start with 15‑minute bouts of intentional boredom—no noise, no scrolling (Harvard Business Review).
  • Pick simple, low‑stimulus acts: a quiet walk, sitting still, or even just staring out a window—anything that lets the mind wander (TIME).

Boredom isn’t passive, it’s an intentional practice. One that becomes easier and richer the more you do it.

I would like to end that boredom isn’t laziness or leisure but a fertile ground. It’s where creativity grows, meaning surfaces, and the mind finds clarity. So yes, you need to be bored. Give yourself the space just 15 minutes to start with and watch what shows up.

I absolutely loved the YouTube Videos put out by Veritasium and Johnny Harris and I would highly recommend watching those.

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