In a world where every spare second can be filled with content, the idea of being bored might feel… uncomfortable. Most of us have actually trained ourselves to reach for a screen of some kind the moment we’re not doing something – that might be waiting for the kettle to boil, sitting on the sofa for five minutes, queuing up to pay for something, and all kinds of other situations like that, for example. You get the idea. 

But what if boredom wasn’t actually something that had to be avoided? What if it’s actually something useful? Although we tend to associate boredom with idleness or laziness, it’s really just a signal and your brain’s way of telling you to change what you’re doing and move on. With that in mind, here are some reasons why it’s okay to be bored as well as what to do about it. Keep reading to find out more. 

Boredom Is Actually Helpful 

It might not feel very pleasant, but boredom is has an important role in life – it’s what gives us a break from all that constant stimulation we’d otherwise have to deal with, and it’s a good way to get us to relax more or even to be more creative when you think about it. 

The fact is that when our minds aren’t being bombarded with information, they’re a lot more free to wander, and that’s when the really interesting things can happen… thoughts come up that we didn’t know we’d been ignoring, for example, and we might be able to connect some ideas together that didn’t seem related at first. And then there’s the fact that we can do some pretty good problem-solving without even trying because there’s nothing else to think about. So in the end, boredom doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening, it just means you’re not specifically doing something. 

There’s even research to back this all up – studies have shown that boredom really can boost creativity and help us come up with new ideas because the mind basically has a bit more space to breathe. 

The Urge To Fill Every Moment 

The problem really is that we don’t give boredom much of a chance – we’ve got all that access to entertainment, news, games, messages… it’s far easier to avoid boredom (or at least stillness) than ever before. And while that might seem like a good thing to start with, it can also be a bit draining, and that’s going to make you feel worse than before. 

The fact is that not every moment has to be filled, and in fact, when we try to fill every moment, we sometimes end up feeling more confused and tired than before, which really isn’t the point at all. 

That’s why letting yourself feel bored from time to time and not rushing to find something (anything!) to keep yourself occupied can be a good idea. Of course, we don’t mean you have to sit still in silence for hours at a time, but we do mean just giving yourself a bit of space to do nothing at all and nothing in particular – your brain will get a rest and it’ll be interesting to see what happens when you just don’t do anything for a bit. 

What To Do When You’re Bored

Of course, you don’t have to stay bored forever! The point isn’t to sit and suffer through it – it’s just to give your brain the time and space it needs to come up with ideas and solutions, and once you’re ready, you can move on to doing other things. 

So how can you make sure your brain gets that chance? Well, it’s about doing small things, and that really can be enough – you might go for a short walk, for example, or fold some laundry, or read a chapter of your book. Perhaps you could spend some time reading a few pages of a book or even making a good cup of tea… 

Equally, it could mean trying something a bit different, and a great example could be an online game of bridge. This is a fantastic choice because it offers just the right mix of having to be focused but also having some fun (and it’s not overstimulating either, so your brain won’t feel too stressed). This kind of game keeps you thinking and gives you something to do, but it won’t take too much of a toll, so you can de-stress at the same time. 

Final Thoughts

We’re often told to stay busy and keep moving and just keep doing things, but the fact is that isn’t always the best idea, and sometimes being bored is what’s going to make life interesting in the end.