by Moriah Arnold
Being bored is something that nobody wants to be for long. It is easy to be stimulated and entertained instantly and constantly in our current day and age. Why would anyone want to subject themselves to being bored for prolonged periods of time when we can entertain ourselves by scrolling Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Why be bored when we can binge-watch a show through Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, etc. Boredom is seen as something negative and unwanted. How could it possibly be beneficial?
I used to start my mornings by picking up my phone almost as soon as I woke up and opening twitter to look at what was trending. Twitter is also my news hub, so I would often spend the first hour or two of my morning observing what is happening across the globe and viewing everyone's differing opinions on the matter. I often would go on Instagram for inspiration when I was stuck on what to do for my next art project or seeing what my other artistic peers were doing. It became somewhat of a crutch for me in multiple areas of my life and existence. That was until I took a digital drawing class last spring.
At the beginning of spring term 2021, my professor was going over the syllabus and outlining the assignments for the class when he told us all that we would have to participate in a daily boredom assignment. He asked us to just sit for 20 minutes with no distractions and just be. Much to my surprise, this assignment ended up being one of the hardest to complete and keep up with, but also one of the assignments that taught me the most about myself.
Often when engaging in this daily quest for boredom, I would sit in my room, sit outside, or stand in the shower. Every second of those 20 minutes felt like an eternity. Sometimes it would go a little faster than others, but most of the time, I would wait for it to end. Though it was a tough assignment to complete, it allowed me to fully observe and experience my surroundings. One thing I was surprised by while participating in these daily assignments was how many creative, original thoughts I actually had. Once I gave myself the opportunity to be at peace and exist in quietness, I felt the drive/urge to be more creative. I noticed things about myself that I had never realized before. Once I had fully welcomed the boredom into my life, I was able to put my phone down and not have to constantly rely on it for entertainment. I realized that it was okay to be uncomfortable and just live and bask in the mundanity of everyday life.
My class assignment was accompanied by some additional readings on the more scientific linkage between boredom and creativity, concentration, and innovation. If you want to read them for yourself, they will be linked below.
https://hbr.org/2011/05/how-boredom-can-drive-innovation?referral=03758&cm_vc=rr_item_page.top_right
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