Member-only story
Why I’m Learning to Let Myself Get Bored Again
And why it’s not as bad as it sounds.
I didn’t realize how much I feared boredom until I sat in silence for five minutes and instantly reached for my phone not to call anyone or anything urgent but just out of habit. That uncomfortable stillness? My brain didn’t like it because it wanted noise, distraction and movement.
We’ve wired ourselves to think that boredom is a waste of time. Growing up, if we said we were bored, we were told to “do something productive” or “go outside.” As adults, we’ve just replaced going outside with endless scrolling. But the truth is, I don’t even know what boredom feels like anymore without a screen trying to fix it for me.
The funny part? I didn’t always used to be like this. As a child, I’d get bored often. And somehow, that boredom led to the most interesting ideas. I’d write, doodle, make up characters in my head, or just stare at the sky and think.
Now, boredom feels like a threat. It creeps in, and within seconds I’ve refreshed three apps, checked messages I didn’t care about, and watched someone bake a cake I’ll never make. I’m not even entertained because I m just avoiding silence.
Recently, I’ve started questioning this. What if boredom isn’t the enemy but a sign that my brain needs a break?
