Boredom is underrated.
We're all kids in the backseat asking "are we there yet?" as beautiful snow-capped mountains whiz by, unappreciated.
We dream up new problems to solve, tasks to complete, goals to accomplish, purchases to make - all in the name of avoiding boredom.
A team of psychologists studying boredom discovered that "many of the people studied, particularly the men, chose to give themselves a mild electric shock rather than be deprived of external sensory stimuli."
Literally choosing pain over boredom.
Incredible beauty awaits the brave few who learn to make friends with boredom. Beauty that sparks creativity, lowers stress, and increases productivity.
Beauty that paints life with a buzzing vibrancy.
The exact beauty that most of us are seeking while we so desperately avoid boredom.
Author James Clear says "at some point, everyone faces the same challenge on the journey of self-improvement: you have to fall in love with boredom."
If you are not yet in love with boredom, allow me to play cupid.
Here are a few potent strategies to slow down and light up your life with boredom.
Slow Down
"Gentle “asking hands” instead of busy, efficient ones can literally transform a mundane task into a time of mutual enrichment." - Janet Lansbury
Although Lansbury is actually talking about changing diapers in this quote, you can find wisdom in this advice by replacing diaper changing with any task that you routinely rush through.
Doing the dishes, taking out the trash, folding laundry. Or, my personal favorite, walking across a parking lot.
Dropping efficiency in place of a gentle touch and slow movements transforms boredom into beauty.
Play
“Doing things we enjoy without a goal in mind leads us to find new information, better understand our own capabilities, and find unexpected beauty around us.” - Shane Parrish
Non-productive playing opens our mind to new possibilities and enhances our learning.
You don't need a monopoly board handy to start playing. Momentarily letting go of goals and to-dos allows most people to naturally gravitate towards play.
I can't help but smile when I see someone on the train humming, spinning a pencil, or swaying their body - standing out like a splash of color in a grey sea of people buried in their phones.
Goal Switch
"...'boredom' is a goal, the antipode of mindless connectivity, constant stimulation, anger and dissatisfaction. I put 'boredom' in quotes because the boredom I’m talking about fosters a heightened sense of presence. To be “bored” is to be free of distraction.”
An alternative to letting go of goals is to make boredom the goal.
Actively eliminate distractions and opportunities for escape. On his magnificent walk through Japan, Craig Mod turned off his phone notifications, let his mind wander, and noticed what was around him.
The lesson here is to mercilessly eliminate boredom killers - to actively seek boredom.
Counterintuitive as it may feel, trying to be bored is a shortcut to revealing beauty around you.
Conclusion:
Beauty surrounds you. Like a private show reserved for those who have the courage to drop distractions and peek behind the curtain.
Slowing your speed, playing, and eliminating distractions are just a few ways you can fall in love with boredom.
For some additional inspiration, I can't recommend these two watches enough. Both are glowing examples of characters who have mastered the mundane and lit up their life with boredom:
A new HBO series that explores the hidden beauty of New York in a delightfully entertaining way.
A movie about a bus driver who writes poetry. A meditation retreat in movie format.