Boredom is often seen as a negative, something to be chased away at all costs. This is because it is viewed as the opposite of productivity or the result of a life only half-lived. However, there is another way to view boredom, and perhaps we should be inviting boredom in and enjoying the results.
In today’s busy world, it is easy to keep boredom at bay. Pick up a phone, flick on the TV, scroll through social media, and two hours can easily pass. As biologist E.O. Wilson says: ‘We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.’
We can even flip it the other way and work endless hours, ramming our days with task after task and admiring our productivity. Yes, we might be getting lots done, but we are also missing something crucial to any business – the space to think creatively.
Boredom is not the enemy of business. In fact, it is often the friend. It is during these periods of downtime that our mind has the chance to wander, drift into thinking abstractedly and highlight new possibilities or an unconsidered way of solving a problem. When we experience boredom, the brain is in a resting state but isn’t idle. Instead, it will sift through memories and consider lessons we have learnt and how they apply to different scenarios. When our minds are left to do this, rather than focus intensely on a task, magical things can happen.
Successful people that have had their best ideas in moments of boredom
Walking is a brilliant way of inspiring creative thoughts, and I am never without a notepad when I go on one. However, the boredom that inspires abstract thinking and problem-solving is not to be confused with the boredom you might feel in a dull meeting or at your job. When this happens, your brain is unlikely to reach that resting state as it will still need to be semi-alert to proceedings, so it is more likely to focus on ways to stop the boredom, such as longingly thinking about your phone or imagining being somewhere else.
Instead, we need to give our minds a chance to drift. For example, I have some of my best ideas while blow-drying my hair. The simple monotony of the task, and the loud noise blocking out all other sounds, really encourages my brain to rest and ponder.
As well as the ones mentioned already, these are some other examples of activities that can create the space for the mind to rest and ponder include:-
As Ozan Varol wisely says in Think Like a Rocket Scientist: ‘The next time you feel boredom arising, resist the temptation to take a hit of data or do something “productive”. Boredom might just be the most productive thing you can do.’
I would love to hear about how you get your best ideas, you can let me know by commenting via our social pages:-
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