The benefits of boredom may sound contradictory. We tend to view boredom as a negative, something that we need to endure or to “fix.” But many experts say that having downtime and letting our minds wander can help spark creativity. Here are two short videos that make the case for boredom.
Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks says that boredom isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. In this short video, he explains why boredom unlocks creativity, activates a powerful brain network, and might even protect you from depression. Learn how the mind wanders—and why that’s a very good thing.
Manoush Zomorodi is a journalist, podcast host and author and host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour. In 2017, she made a TED presentation about how boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas. It is thought-provoking, funny, and still very relevant today. She explains how some of the most creative moments come when to us while we are on autopilot, doing daily tasks. Learn to love being bored as Manoush Zomorodi explains the connection between spacing out and creativity.
Tips for turning down mobile phone dependence and turning up “boredom”
Many of us feel too busy or overstimulated day-to-day to be bored. Both the videos above cite our phones as primary culprits in our daily distractions that keep us from the type of thinking that sparks creativity. If you would like to turn down the distractions and tap into some quality “boredom,” here are tips from experts.