Boredom
When was the last time you felt genuinely bored?
Between our fast-paced lives and the technology at our fingertips, it's not often that many of us feel boredom. Even when that feeling might start to creep in, we're often quick to reach for our phones or to-do list to alleviate the feeling. After all, boredom isn't a particularly comfortable feeling to have.
So, we clutter our days with watching, scrolling, listening, reading or doing. We multi-task. We seek entertainment as our form of rest. We avoid the discomfort of boredom simply because we easily can.
Unfortunately by denying ourselves boredom, we're also denying ourselves space. It's in boredom that we're quiet enough to hear our own thoughts and messages from our body. It allows us to calm our nervous system and reduce feelings of overwhelm. Boredom provides opportunities for our minds to wander and be creative. It gives us the space to notice and enjoy those small details around us that we'd otherwise miss (such as the birds singing, the pretty details on our coffee mug, etc.).
Boredom is also a motivator. As with all feelings, the feeling of boredom is sending us a signal. The uncomfortable feeling of boredom encourages us to alleviate it through action. If we're engaging with ongoing distractions at the first hint of boredom, we never reflect on what actions those ought to be. But if we allow ourselves to not only feel boredom but to sit in it for a while, we're far more likely to reflect on what actions align with who we want to be or the life we want to live - and most importantly, feel inspired to act on them!
I encourage you to challenge yourself by finding opportunities for boredom in your day. Of course life circumstances and barriers mean these opportunities are not equally available to us all, nor might they be available each day. But if there are times when you automatically seek distractions or tend to reach for your phone without purpose, notice that. Consider changing the routine and giving yourself space to simply sit and let boredom creep it. You might be surprised at what comes up.
Between our fast-paced lives and the technology at our fingertips, it's not often that many of us feel boredom. Even when that feeling might start to creep in, we're often quick to reach for our phones or to-do list to alleviate the feeling. After all, boredom isn't a particularly comfortable feeling to have.
So, we clutter our days with watching, scrolling, listening, reading or doing. We multi-task. We seek entertainment as our form of rest. We avoid the discomfort of boredom simply because we easily can.
Unfortunately by denying ourselves boredom, we're also denying ourselves space. It's in boredom that we're quiet enough to hear our own thoughts and messages from our body. It allows us to calm our nervous system and reduce feelings of overwhelm. Boredom provides opportunities for our minds to wander and be creative. It gives us the space to notice and enjoy those small details around us that we'd otherwise miss (such as the birds singing, the pretty details on our coffee mug, etc.).
Boredom is also a motivator. As with all feelings, the feeling of boredom is sending us a signal. The uncomfortable feeling of boredom encourages us to alleviate it through action. If we're engaging with ongoing distractions at the first hint of boredom, we never reflect on what actions those ought to be. But if we allow ourselves to not only feel boredom but to sit in it for a while, we're far more likely to reflect on what actions align with who we want to be or the life we want to live - and most importantly, feel inspired to act on them!
I encourage you to challenge yourself by finding opportunities for boredom in your day. Of course life circumstances and barriers mean these opportunities are not equally available to us all, nor might they be available each day. But if there are times when you automatically seek distractions or tend to reach for your phone without purpose, notice that. Consider changing the routine and giving yourself space to simply sit and let boredom creep it. You might be surprised at what comes up.