Thank you for the interesting read, Chris. You have quoted one of my favourite authors in your post — Jon Kabat-Zinn. As someone who has studied his work relentlessly, I think boredom actually becomes impossible when we develop mindfulness.
I believe that from a mindfulness perspective boredom happens when we treat the moments in between as waiting rooms—when we believe real life is happening somewhere else. It’s the mind rejecting the present moment, deciding that this moment doesn’t matter.
I wonder what would happen if we treated the in-betweens as small yet meaningful moments. Maybe boredom isn’t something to endure but an invitation to pay attention, to notice the life unfolding in these small moments—the way light shifts in a room, the quiet hum of life continuing around us.
Maybe boredom only exists when we forget that every moment, no matter how small, matters in its own way.
Is boredom in this day and age just really an absence of stimulation? We are just not used to having very little of it and mistake it for boredom, and in fact we should embrace this state, turn inwards and embrace it from time to time.
I often walk a different way to work from the station to break the routine. A mini travel cheat if you like. It is hard to break the daily routines as our minds want the least cognitive workout each day.
So true! We have to make space in our brains for creativity and connections to emerge.
As a fiction writer, I frequently solve plot problems while in the shower--and then can't capture the thought. Always swore I'd get some kids' bathtub crayons to scribble key words on the tiles...maybe I'll put those back on the list!
So beautifully said! I've been gong on walks without listening to anything. New York winters are dismal and gray, but the act of embracing "boredom" and spending time with our inner thoughts are worthy activities.
It feels like we are scrared of boredom. What does it say about us if we have the time to get bored? I guess we need to acknowledge boredom as a value to be celebrated in our lives.
A great message. I’ve found walking without headphones to be a useful way to do unplug. It’s uncomfortable at first but when you start to notice little sounds like birdsong and children playing you realise you’ve been blocking out the good stuff. Also, people watching and eavesdropping is such a good way to find inspiration. I really enjoyed this piece.
Thank you for the interesting read, Chris. You have quoted one of my favourite authors in your post — Jon Kabat-Zinn. As someone who has studied his work relentlessly, I think boredom actually becomes impossible when we develop mindfulness.
I believe that from a mindfulness perspective boredom happens when we treat the moments in between as waiting rooms—when we believe real life is happening somewhere else. It’s the mind rejecting the present moment, deciding that this moment doesn’t matter.
I wonder what would happen if we treated the in-betweens as small yet meaningful moments. Maybe boredom isn’t something to endure but an invitation to pay attention, to notice the life unfolding in these small moments—the way light shifts in a room, the quiet hum of life continuing around us.
Maybe boredom only exists when we forget that every moment, no matter how small, matters in its own way.
Really love this take, thank you for sharing.
Is boredom in this day and age just really an absence of stimulation? We are just not used to having very little of it and mistake it for boredom, and in fact we should embrace this state, turn inwards and embrace it from time to time.
I often walk a different way to work from the station to break the routine. A mini travel cheat if you like. It is hard to break the daily routines as our minds want the least cognitive workout each day.
Love this hack. And such an easy way to create a space for curiosity and intrigue. 🫡
Fantastic read! Sometimes, the best creative ideas I get are on long walks when my mind wanders.
Love this.
So true! We have to make space in our brains for creativity and connections to emerge.
As a fiction writer, I frequently solve plot problems while in the shower--and then can't capture the thought. Always swore I'd get some kids' bathtub crayons to scribble key words on the tiles...maybe I'll put those back on the list!
So beautifully said! I've been gong on walks without listening to anything. New York winters are dismal and gray, but the act of embracing "boredom" and spending time with our inner thoughts are worthy activities.
It feels like we are scrared of boredom. What does it say about us if we have the time to get bored? I guess we need to acknowledge boredom as a value to be celebrated in our lives.
A great message. I’ve found walking without headphones to be a useful way to do unplug. It’s uncomfortable at first but when you start to notice little sounds like birdsong and children playing you realise you’ve been blocking out the good stuff. Also, people watching and eavesdropping is such a good way to find inspiration. I really enjoyed this piece.
I do require some boredom to get me off my arse and get out there, doing what I enjoy.