Boredom & Brainstorming
JUL 03, 2026
The summer has been in full swing lately. Sammy & I walked for 45 minutes or so, and now, we’ve been downtown under shade for a couple more hours. It’s still pretty damn hot out from under direct sunlight. I got a nice, steady stream of sweat running down into my belly button (that I know you wanted to know about). Looking forward to a cool shower when I get home. I’ve had to take a couple more rinses a day the last week or so because the heat has really ramped up in Alabama. It has you feeling like a glazed, Krispy Kreme donut within 5 minutes of stepping out into it. I think I’m also going to watch some Drake & Josh clips on YouTube after getting cleaned up for nostalgia. What a show… If you disagree, um… Yeah, we might just have to fight, honestly.
I think it’s about time for a little ink soon, too. It’s been at least 4 years. I have a childhood friend who is an artist now, so I’ll likely use her going forward. Sitting & breathing through the discomfort is therapeutic. That’s the same thing we should be trying to do when emotions come up. Instead of it fucking your tattoo up if you move (or distract), you have the potential to fuck your mind up. The experience may be “fine”, but it could be much livelier & more connected with this time set aside. The feeling will return if not honored. It’ll get more & more buried until the connection is lost, and you’ll feel even more chaotic because you don’t have an inkling as to how to make space for it or what it even is anymore.
People are genuinely afraid of boredom these days, and I understand why. It was scary for me as well, but trust that it can be a super tool. You shift into autopilot because you’ve neglected your emotions and self so much that your body quit trying. If you rep the same day enough, the need to be present goes down even further. You remember when we’d get the chance to brainstorm when we were first learning how to write? I think giving ourselves the chance to brainstorm a little each day would help a ton with connection to ourselves, others, & the world we live in, rather than relying on listening to other people’s opinions on things.
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In autopilot, you still need to operate because of obligations, but you enter a numb state where you’re not able to pick up on the little things and nuances that can bring so much joy. You fill your day with other things because you don’t consider yourself interesting enough. Sure, you have things you have to get done (like anyone), but this space plays a critical part in making the rest of it much more fulfilling & authentic.
If the silence or the sounds of your environment are too quiet initially, play lyric-less music at a low volume. Start with 10–15 minutes, and you can increase it as you choose. When you understand yourself more (from this time), you begin to enjoy boredom more because you like the growing connection you gain to yourself in this time. We can rest and be playful with things rather than dictating ourselves to “do more”. We’re content focusing only on what comes from our brains. I can attest to the impact it’s made on my life.
It never has to be shared with anyone… It’s a safe & quiet space for you to sift yourself from all the chaos in the world. Let things slow, quiet, and become clearer, so that you can operate from a much more tethered place. Have you ever thought that neglecting yourself in this way subconsciously sends a message to you that you don’t find yourself interesting? That there’s no way you could entertain yourself aside from filling it with things outside of you. You begin to get anxious when things slow down or get quiet, rather than using it to relax or tune into yourself. It’s very difficult to find meaning, purpose, and direction if we don’t slow down without an agenda.
I think about some of the baseball games we’d finish with the rain blowing sideways and the wind screaming. It was much more difficult to track the ball (whether hitting or on defense). This is just like that. We can make it easier to tune in & listen by eliminating all the extra noise and distraction. Don’t set expectations beforehand or be annoyed when you feel like you’ve made very little progress after an hour. I still sometimes have very little at that point. If you run out of time, show up again at the next session. Keep trying! You just have to break the seal and practice enough so that you can get into this zone quicker. Just as with anything you’ve ever learned, you didn’t nail it the first time. The longer it has been neglected, the more patient you’ll need to be. I promise you won’t regret it if you decide and stick with it.
Quality of life is the thing that matters the most to me above acceptance, wealth, status, etc. Self-connection and expression, along with being of service to others (helping them heal and exist more peacefully and in alignment), are my main intentions. I think it has to be the focal point because you have minimal control over the latter. Even if you do have success there, it will be empty without a balance. Those seem to be byproducts of how good a job you do at connecting to & expressing yourself rather than the focus. Thank you for taking the time to read. Much love! Hope it was helpful and enjoyable.
P.S. I saw where Fred again set up a phone-free warehouse in NY with lights, music, and art for people to come decompress (rest, exist, sleep) or engage (dance & socialize) if they wanted. I think that’s an amazing idea. I think we’d connect much better if phones weren’t such a big part of our lives (especially when we’re with people). Maybe we can get something like that happening in Huntsville!
Til’ next time,
Nolan
