Seth Godin, as he often does, captured our relationship with boredom perfectly in a recent blog post: “…the market has figured out that we simply don’t like to be bored. And so there’s more stimulation, more options and more noise than ever before.” Whether we doomscroll, stream content, or order anything we want on demand, human beings trade little hits of dopamine and instant gratification for the erosion of sustained willpower and at the expense of everyday vitality. When we elevate boredom over convenience in our worklife good things happen – we get better sleep, are more focused, and strengthen our relationships. Here is how you can invest in boredom and how doing so will help you grow.

Boredom is awesome

For me, boredom occurs when I have nowhere to direct my energy or when I have difficulty focusing on a task. According to Psychology Today’s Shahram Heshmat, “The most common way to define boredom in Western culture is having nothing to do. Boredom is generally viewed as an unpleasant emotional state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest in and difficulty concentrating on the current activity.” For the record, my kids define boredom as having nothing to do (usually on weekends). Perhaps they are experiencing what James Danckert, a neuroscientist, and John D. Eastwood, a psychologist, describe as a “cognitive state that has something in common with tip-of-the-tongue syndrome—a sensation that something is missing, though we can’t quite say what.” (This quote comes from Margaret Talbot’s fantastic New Yorker piece).

Whether boredom comes from a need for novelty, lack of flow, or an inability to focus, being comfortable with being bored can also unleash creative potential. When we invest in boredom we replace quick hits of dopamine, which so many folks get from checking a device, with daydreaming that produces richer and more sustained positive vibes.

How to invest in boredom

Our downtime is often filled immediately with distractions because being still and listening to our thoughts is deeply uncomfortable amidst such a noisy time. When we invest in boredom we build capacity for stillness and focus in a distracted world.

Notice opportunities for silence, such as waiting in a grocery store lineup or early in the morning while sipping coffee. My friend Kurt recommends anchoring your silence in something you enjoy, like going on a long bike ride or reading a great piece of fiction.

Finally, weaving short meditations into our workdays can help us recharge, refocus, and reconnect with what matters most – when I listen to guided meditations my favourite phrase is “let your mind wander” because it gives me permission to daydream. My best advice is to take two or three minutes between meetings, over lunch, or when you get home to let your mind wander … just a little bit … while turning down the noise in your worklife.

How will you invest in boredom today?