Boredom is a Privilege
how to unlock creativity
Being bored is perceived as a negative, especially as a kid where responsibilities are limited (I can’t be the only one who would write lists with their friends during summers on what to do when we’re bored). But the more years go by, the more I crave those moments of silence, peace without noise.
Today we live in constant overstimulation, the internet is no longer a stagnant place, it follows us everywhere, which means our jobs, the worldwide news, and social media is constantly crowding our minds. No wonder it is hard to fall asleep at night.
I will never forget the first Ted Talk I watched that changed my life. Years ago, one of my teachers at the end of class played a Ted Talk called “How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas”. This Ted Talk came out over 8 years ago, and it still deeply resonates.
Manoush Zomorodi emphasizes how mental downtime is essential for idea generation and problem-solving. She warns how constant stimuli from smartphones and social media keep us from reaching this mental downtime, and because of that technology is quite literally stealing time away from our creativity.
This state of boredom, although initially may feel uncomfortable (feeling that twitch of your fingers reach for your phone), allows the center of our brain that breeds imaginative thinking and creativity to activate.
To embrace boredom is to be patience and disciplined, but the reward is unlocked creativity, and potentially less anxiety.
This made, and makes, so much sense to me. We no longer have much time without constant noise and overstimulation. To just be. To tune into our bodies and our minds. We must make this time and prioritize it.
Sitting and scrolling on our phones is not downtime. Laying on the couch and watching TV is not downtime. We as a generation have become reliant on this noise — watching TV while eating, scrolling while working, podcasting while cooking — because we feel uncomfortable with the boredom and silence of our own minds (red flag!).
Our default state is fight-or-flight, constant stimulation. To find peace, to find creativity, to find healing, is to sit in that uncomfort and find comfort it in again.
To tune out the noise. To tune into our own minds.
If you find yourself feeling constantly overstimulated, anxious, creatively blocked, chronically fatigued, and disconnected — this is a sign from your body. It is communicating with you! Schedule silent time. Remember to rest without guilt or shame. Be okay with just being. Sometimes the most productive things we can do for our minds is take a break from productivity as a whole.
In silence, in boredom, is where creativity thrives.
Let’s be more bored. It is a privilege.
CHALLENGE THIS WEEK
If you would like to join me — I am challenging myself. Every time I find myself opening up social media to scroll, instead I will do something to silence my mind.
Go for a walk
Do a chore in the house
Stretch
Take deep belly breaths
Go outside
Journal
Each time my brain goes towards overstimulation and distraction, I will force it into silence, boredom and that state of discomfort. By constantly practicing this, eventually it will become habit! Instead of reaching for my phone, hopefully I will start wanting to do things that cause my brain to go into creativity mode.
I will check in in the chat to see how we’re all doing!
GIVEAWAY WINNERS
Also before I forget, the winner’s of last weeks giveaway!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!! Thank you all for participating, more to come! xx
Claire Padron
Emily
Emma Frasier
I will message you all to get those candles out to you!!!
Coming on Sunday — July seasonal menu!!! So excited to share with you guys this seasons produce is just sooooo gooooood.
Talk to you all soon. Xo - Ella
I love this so much! It’s so true & such a valuable lesson to learn to be okay with being bored without distractions 🧘♀️
This is such a great reminder! I’ve realized life becomes richer the more I allow the silence to resonate though it without constant stimulation.