What we need is a little… boredom?

Imagine sitting in complete peace and quiet. You have nothing to do. You’re not working today. No school. No chores that need to get done. No one is around today, it’s just you. Imagine that you don’t have your phone, TV,  or any devises at all. You are sitting in silence with nothing to entertain you or distract your attention. You are bored! When is the last time you faced this feeling? For many of us, it’s been years (outside of a dead phone battery)!

In the book “The Comfort Crisis,” author Michael Easter jokes that boredom was pronounced dead on June 29th, 2007, thanks to the iPhone. He adds that our imaginations went with it. It seems that we always have a way to keep our mind busy.

Is ridding ourselves of boredom a bad thing? Psychologist Erich Fromm called boredom “one of life’s greatest tortures.” We can find hundreds of podcasts and books around productivity, filled with suggestions for eliminating down time. After all, most of us feel better when our minds are focused on something (it’s much more comfortable than quiet). Is constant “noise” too much of a good thing?

Of course, the concept that we need quiet in our minds isn’t a new concept. In the Bible we find several references to quieting our minds. Isaiah records one of God’s invitations to be quiet: “Thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength’” (Isaiah 30:15).  Around 375 BC, Plato critiques the “distracted existence” of the majority, describing them as being “led in circles by the songs and sounds of society” (The Republic). 

What is the cost of eliminating boredom? When bored, our minds are “unfocused.” According to Easter, when our minds are “unfocused,” we’re forced to find something to focus on, which allows for creativity, thinking about new activities and projects, and even processing complex problems.  It’s also a state of rest.

The good news… the prescription for boredom is simple and free! It just takes a little intentionality.

Find space to shut down the noise occasionally. Force yourself to find something to do that is not mindless digital distraction (ideally outdoors). Next time you have a break, sit outside or go for a walk without your device. If you have an errand to run within a mile or two, walk instead of driving. Try driving in silence. Allow yourself to have nothing specific to focus on.  Seek out nature. You can go for a hike, try camping, fishing, bird watching, etc. Oh, and leave the phone behind!!

There are so many opportunities everyday to step outside your business! What ideas do you have?