Why We Should Let Ourselves Be Bored

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1. 01Let Yourself Be Bored

   Good afternoon, everyone. When was the last time you were truly bored? No phone, no music, nothing to do. For most of us, it's hard to remember. Today, I'd like to make an unusual recommendation: let yourself be bored.

2. 02We Avoid Our Own Thoughts

   Think about it. While waiting for a train, standing in line, or even walking to the kitchen, many of us reach for our phones. We fill every empty moment.

3. 03A Surprising Experiment

   In 2014, researchers led by Timothy Wilson published a famous study in the journal Science. They asked people to sit alone in a room, with nothing to do, for up to fifteen minutes. The only thing they could do was press a button to give themselves a mild electric shock.

   Source: Wilson et al., "Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind," Science (2014)

4. 04The Results

   Even though these participants had said earlier they would pay money to avoid the shock, sixty-seven percent of the men and twenty-five percent of the women shocked themselves at least once. Many preferred pain to sitting quietly with their thoughts.

   Source: Wilson et al., "Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind," Science (2014)

5. 05Why Boredom Can Be Good

   So why would I recommend boredom? From my own experience, my best ideas come when my mind has space to wander, in the shower, on a walk, or staring out of a train window. When every moment is filled, that space disappears.

6. 06"But Boredom Is Unpleasant"

   You might say, "But boredom feels bad." That's true, and the experiment shows it. But like exercise, it feels uncomfortable at first and gets easier with practice.

7. 07How to Practice

   Here's how to start. Take one short walk a day without your phone. When you're waiting in line, just wait. And try ten quiet minutes a day with no input at all.

8. 08Conclusion

   To sum up, many of us find our own thoughts hard to sit with. But giving our minds some empty space can be a gift. This week, let yourself be bored, and see what ideas appear. Thank you.