The Art of Being Bored
Written by: Mohammad Balar, Scholar Writer, 3rd Year Medical Science
Photo by: MJ Balar on Unsplash
Let me ask you: when was the last time you were bored? Have you ever stopped and thought, "Wow, it has been a while since I can even remember what being bored feels like?" In the busy world around us, where we spend so much time on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or simply keeping up with a packed schedule, it often feels like there’s no time for boredom. Or do we actually have the time, but choose to fill every moment instead? When we are eating, walking to the car, commuting to work, or doing laundry, we tend to put on headphones and find some way to escape boredom. If that sounds like you, and you have not felt boredom in a long time, then maybe it is time to start making room for it. As Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks argues, boredom holds the key to life’s meaning.
Why We Run Away from Boredom
Boredom is not comfortable. I can relate to that myself, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I was truly bored. That is a problem. Being bored forces us to deal with the uncomfortable questions that arise during what Professor Brooks describes as the default mode network, which he defines as “brain regions most active when the mind is at wakeful rest; involved in self-reflection, daydreaming, memory, and imagining the future.” Looking back, I remember that some of my biggest goals and dreams came to me during moments of boredom. Yet now, those moments have been missing because I have filled most of my time with things that leave no room for stillness.
Boredom pushes us to confront life’s tougher questions: Who do we want to become? What impact do I want to make within my community? How far am I from reaching my goals and becoming a better version of myself, both for my own sake and for the people around me? These are the kinds of thoughts boredom brings to the surface, and that is exactly why so many of us try to avoid it.
Being bored challenges you to think about the meaning of your life. It forces you to confront the things you said you wanted to do but never did. You remember the last time you promised yourself you would start exercising, but then pushed it aside. When boredom comes, the question of "why didn’t I stick to my promises?" starts to surface. That is what makes boredom so uncomfortable: it forces you to face the promises you made to yourself but didn’t keep. Instead, many of us reach for our phones for the quick relief of pushing those thoughts away. Once we do that, the mind stops challenging us. It no longer questions why we postponed the very things that could have made a meaningful difference in our lives.
How to Be Bored
The title of this section might sound silly, but in today’s fast-paced world, we’ve almost forgotten how to be bored. Are you driving a car? Do not play music. Waiting in the elevator? Do not go on your phone. Waiting to cross the street? Again, do not pull out your phone. Eating dinner at home? Do not watch TV; just enjoy the meal. Washing dishes? Turn off the podcast or music. The list could go on, but the point is simple: we need to intentionally make space for boredom.
This is not to say that we need to live like we are in the Stone Age. Rather, it is to recognize that we do not always need to be on our phones, checking the news, or filling every spare second with noise. Those things can wait. Too often, they steal our precious moments of boredom - time that could be used for reflection.
The Hidden Art
Being bored is good, and this is something that needs to be discussed more openly. In today’s world, we are constantly deprived of boredom, and over time that can leave us with a sense of hollowness. We stop searching for deeper meaning and purpose in our lives, and we lose the space where creativity and fresh ideas can emerge. While I myself have lost touch with this valuable habit, I invite you to join me in rediscovering boredom. Let us use that time to reflect, to grow, and to become better people in our own lives and in our communities. Maybe the next time you reach for your phone, don’t - and see what your mind has been waiting to tell you.
Reference List:
Brooks, A. C. (2025, August). You need to be bored. Here’s why. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2025/08/you-need-to-be-bored-heres-why
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