Embrace Boredom

Quick Win

Constant stimulation can be draining — give your brain a break.

Try This Today

• Leave open space in your day. Mark off some minutes in your daily planner for free time. Think of it as R&R for your brain. Try setting a timer and doing your best to sit for a while and do nothing.
• Practice patience instead of distraction. Resist the urge to scroll through your phone while waiting in a doctor’s office or riding in an elevator.
• Tune into your environment. Carve out 10 minutes for a quick walk around the block and challenge yourself to tap into your senses — without listening to a podcast or music. Can you identify the types of birds that are chirping? What color are the flowers you can see? Notice how your breath feels as you inhale and exhale. Don’t force any thoughts; simply allow whatever pops into your mind to surface.

Why

Our brains were not meant to be constantly stimulated, says journalist Celeste Headlee, author of the book Do Nothing, which challenges our obsession with productivity. “The more we embrace boredom and allow our minds to wander, the more opportunity we give our minds to rest and think about new things,” she said. Your brain needs a breather every once in a while, and boredom helps you consolidate memories, reflect on experiences and get more creative, according to a 2022 article by psychiatrist Ashok Seshadri, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic Health System.