What do you do when you’re bored? Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok probably spring to mind, don’t they? How often do we instinctively tap on that oh-so-familiar icon of our app of choice when boredom strikes?
I once read that it’s good to be bored. It’s during those moments of boredom that we ponder, which can lead to new ideas. In this age of instant gratification and shrinking attention spans, I believe it’s essential to keep our minds working. So, one day, I decided that for a little time each day, I would let myself be bored. I would resist the urge to pick up my phone, laptop, or any other device. Instead, I would simply sit and think.
We’ve given this practice many names—reflection, meditation, contemplation, etc. Whatever you choose to call it, if you’re not doing it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try. That small pocket of time each day has brought me clarity, sparked ideas, and offered new perspectives.
And it’s not just about setting aside specific times to do this. On my way to work, I notice so many people glued to their phones as the world goes by. In fact, I do it myself! There’s so much to do experience around us – let’s take a break from everything and soak it all in sometimes (I understand how hard it is to do with our super busy schedules).
My point is that it’s okay to be bored. It’s okay to let you mind wander. Soak in your environment and you might see something you’ve never seen before. Be bored, but don’t let yourself be consumed by tech so much that you become boring.
