The benefits of Boredom
Ah yes! The classic case of boredom. We hear the words, "I'm bored," so often that most of us might welcome or dread it. Generally speaking, being bored is often described as an unpleasant feeling, and we would do absolutely anything to escape it!
Despite having the raging urge to escape the feeling of boredom, it can be highly beneficial to allow yourself to feel bored. Here's why!
1. It can improve our mental health.
In this day and age, our minds are constantly flooded with information from social media. We are always surrounded by distractions and overloaded with details, events, and the happenings in our lives. With all the knowledge our brains are taking in, we are bound to have limited cognitive resources for other activities. So, it is hard to focus on one thing while simultaneously thinking about a million things. By taking a break and allowing yourself to be bored, you present yourself with the valuable opportunity to let your overloaded brain relax and alleviate stress. So, step into the comfort of boredom's arms and step away from social media and other outside distractions to uplift your mental health!
2. Boredom can increase creativity.
Have you ever noticed that you come up with the most innovative ideas when you're bored? Well, there's a reason for that! Being bored allows you to turn inward and use your time for thought and reflection. It can also enable creativity and problem-solving by allowing your mind to wander and daydream. For example, many people claim to come up with great solutions to the issues that they are grappling with while in the shower. This is because their minds are free to wander while their body is engaged in a mindless task. If you're struggling with the solution to a problem, just be bored a little, and you'll see the sparks of creativity fly!
3. Boredom motivates the pursuit of new goals
If you are constantly bored, you might not necessarily be doing what you want to do. Hence it is an emotional signal that you want to shift your focus to something more interesting and appealing to you. Being bored means that you are currently engaged not only in an uninteresting or unchallenging situation but also in a situation that fails to meet your expectations and desires. This is where Boredom comes in handy, as it encourages us to shift our attention to more fulfilling and exciting goals. It pushes us to get creative and take on new hobbies, making tasks more enjoyable.
4. You can gain self-control skills
Some things are just not that interesting, and that's alright! We know that boredom affects the ability to focus and pay attention because of the loss of interest. This can happen to anyone. Just keep in mind that it has its benefits. Boredom may result in disengagement as well as poor performance. But when you lack the cognitive resources to focus, boredom may come in handy as it correlates with the ability to focus and self-regulate. When you learn the feeling of boredom from a young age, you are better prepared to develop self-control skills and regulate your thoughts, emotions, and actions. This will come in handy as an adult!
5. Boredom helps children form relationships
With our generation being technologically obsessed, most people get lost in the endless cycle of scrolls and posts for a slight sensation of dopamine. We all know these dopamine-filled sensations never last as long as we'd want. And let's be honest, you rarely remember a childhood TV show or game, but you have the best memories of playing outside and enjoying your free time. Leaving children to have unstructured time to play with other children helps them develop their much-needed interpersonal skills. Giving a child the time and space with nothing to distract them will help them negotiate, collaborate, and develop activities jointly by learning to communicate, make eye contact, and read body language. These are things that can only be learnt through experience.
6. Boredom restores the brain
Ever felt exhausted when you have done an intense activity? Intense activities take a lot out of you as a person as it requires your undivided attention, leaving no room for other thoughts or ideas. So, it is natural for your brain to return to its default resting state after focusing intensely. When you are bored, you usually fall into the "resting state", which is important since many things are happening in your brain. While you rest, your brain consolidates memories, and reflect on lessons learned by playing through scenarios and applying what was learned and how it could be used in the future. So next time you feel burnt out, remember to take a moment to relax so that your brain can process your emotions and experiences accordingly!
