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We live in a world where everyone is busy. Too busy to exercise. Too busy to meet friends. Too busy to read that book sitting on the bedside table since 2022. We have endless to-do lists, responsibilities, appointments, deadlines and things we absolutely must get done.
And yet, somehow, we find 45 minutes to scroll through TikTok, another 30 to decide what to watch on Netflix, and enough time to check the fridge seven times, just in case something exciting has happened in there.
So here's a question. If we're all so busy, how on earth do we find the time to be bored?
Back in 2021, I created something called the Boredom Barometer Quiz. Maybe I was bored myself… it was the pandemic, after all… and decided to do something about it! I'd completely forgotten about it until recently, when it popped back into my head, and I decided to take another look.
And two things happened.
First, I started laughing. I'd forgotten just how ridiculous some of the questions and results were. And I actually felt quite proud of myself! This was before AI became part of our everyday lives, and every word, every joke and every silly idea came straight out of my own head.
Second, it made me think about boredom, how we spend our time, and the strange contradiction of being constantly busy yet somehow still managing to get bored.
So I thought I'd share some of those thoughts with you. And by the way, if you're already too bored to read the whole article, feel free to skip straight to the quiz. I won't be offended. Although it might tell us something about your boredom levels.
So Much Entertainment, So Little Satisfaction
We have more entertainment at our fingertips than previous generations could have imagined. Thousands of films, millions of songs, social media, games, podcasts and endless opportunities to learn something new.
And now we even have AI. We can ask it practically anything, from serious questions about the universe to completely ridiculous requests that serve no purpose whatsoever beyond making us laugh.
Yet we spend half an hour scrolling through Netflix before deciding there's nothing worth watching. We check Facebook to see what's happening, only to check again ten minutes later. We can even spend an hour on LinkedIn convincing ourselves we're being productive because, after all, we're reading professional content!
Congratulations. We've become remarkably skilled at keeping ourselves occupied. But are we actually enjoying ourselves?
Are We Bored, Distracted, or Avoiding Something?
Here's where things get interesting. We often use the word bored to describe different experiences. And sometimes, what looks like boredom might be something else entirely.
- Boredom: We want to engage with something meaningful or satisfying, but nothing seems appealing.
- Distraction: We shift our attention away from what we're experiencing.
- Avoidance: We use activities to escape uncomfortable thoughts, feelings or responsibilities.
- Overstimulation: We're so used to constant entertainment and distractions that slower, simpler activities can start to feel boring.
- Disconnection: Our days are full of activities, but few feel personally rewarding.
These experiences can overlap, but understanding the difference can tell us something useful about ourselves.
You might open TikTok because you're genuinely bored, because you're avoiding a difficult conversation or simply because you've had a demanding day and want a good laugh. Same activity. Different reasons. The interesting part is recognising why we're doing what we're doing.
Is Boredom Trying to Tell Us Something?
We tend to treat boredom as a problem that needs to be solved immediately. Five minutes waiting for someone? Grab the phone. Standing in a queue? Check your messages. Sitting alone with nothing planned? Quick! Find something productive to do!
Apparently, doing absolutely nothing has become an extreme sport.
But boredom can actually serve a purpose. In a 2018 study published in Psychological Review, psychologists Erin Westgate and Timothy Wilson explored how boredom relates to attention and meaning. Their research suggests that boredom can arise when we struggle to engage with an activity, either because it doesn't hold our attention or because it doesn't feel meaningful to us.
I find that fascinating because it suggests that boredom might be giving us useful information about how we're spending our time.
Think about how easily we can fill our days with responsibilities, routines and things we have to do, leaving little room for what we love to do. We're busy, we're productive, we're ticking things off our lists, but how much of it are we actually enjoying?
It's possible to have a full calendar and an unfulfilling life. And sometimes, what we interpret as boredom might be a sign that we're missing curiosity, enjoyment or something that feels personally rewarding.
Of course, sometimes you're just stuck in a painfully dull meeting. Sometimes, you’re allowed to just be bored… and you have my permission.
Have We Forgotten How to Have Fun?
Think back to when you were a child. A cardboard box could become a spaceship, and a puddle was an irresistible invitation to jump in, splash around and get completely soaked, much to your parents' horror! You didn't need a reason to do something silly. You did it because it was fun. You weren't worried about looking ridiculous or whether you were being productive. You were simply enjoying yourself.
Of course, children get bored too. But they also have an incredible ability to entertain themselves, invent games and find fun in the simplest things. They don't always need someone or something to entertain them. Sometimes, they create their own fun.
Somewhere along the way, many of us become very serious adults. We start worrying about what other people think, whether we'll make mistakes or whether we'll look ridiculous. We become so concerned with doing things properly that we forget how much fun there is in doing something just for the hell of it.
I find this particularly interesting because playfulness is one of my core values, and even I sometimes catch myself taking life far too seriously. I wonder how many opportunities for enjoyment we miss simply because we're afraid of looking stupid.
Maybe part of the answer to boredom is remembering that we don't always need something to entertain us. Sometimes, we can create our own fun, simply by being a little more spontaneous, playful and willing to make fools of ourselves.
The Art of Doing Nothing
Have you noticed how difficult it has become to do absolutely nothing?
You're having coffee with a friend, enjoying a lovely conversation. Your friend gets up to go to the bathroom, and what do you do? Before they've even reached the door, your phone is in your hand. You're waiting for a doctor's appointment. You check your messages. You're standing in a queue. You scroll through social media. An advert comes on television. You reach for your phone.
It's almost as if our phones have become extensions of our hands. The moment there's a gap in whatever we're doing, we automatically reach for them. It's become a reflex.
We've become so accustomed to constant stimulation that the moment we're doing nothing, we feel bored. We want something to entertain us, something to occupy our attention, something to fill those empty minutes. But what if we tried something different?
You’re sitting on a bench, doing nothing, and boredom starts to creep in. You reach for your phone and start scrolling. What if, instead, you took a moment to look around? Notice the trees moving in the breeze, listen to the birds, feel the warmth of the sun on your face or watch people passing by. Suddenly, there's plenty to experience. Nothing around you has changed. What's changed is where you've placed your attention.
And there's something else. When we reach for our phones, we may be introducing more information, more distractions, and more stimulation into our already busy minds. We jump from one thing to another, rarely giving ourselves a moment to simply be.
When we bring our attention to the present moment, we give ourselves a break from that constant stream of stimulation. We create space to notice, to reflect and to let our thoughts settle. And in that space, we may find something even more valuable than entertainment: peace and clarity.
That's one of the things I love about presence. It allows us to appreciate the simplest experiences while giving our minds a chance to rest.
The next time boredom strikes, instead of automatically reaching for your phone, you could try being present for a moment. You might discover that doing nothing can be surprisingly enjoyable. And sometimes, a little peace and quiet is exactly what we need.
Create a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From
I believe we can create a life we don't need a vacation from. And part of that is learning to enjoy everyday life, including the ordinary moments between the exciting ones.
It doesn't mean every day needs to be extraordinary. Some days will be dull. Some tasks will be tedious. Some evenings will involve binge-watching television in our pyjamas, and that's perfectly fine.
What matters is becoming more aware of how we're spending our time. So the next time you catch yourself reaching for your phone or opening the fridge for no apparent reason, pause for a moment. Are you actually bored? Are you tired? Are you avoiding something? Or are you simply looking for a little fun?
Maybe you need rest, a conversation with a friend, a new experience or some time doing something you love. Or maybe you just need to watch a ridiculous video and have a good laugh.
After all, life is a learning playground. We don't have to take it so seriously.
How Bored Are You… Really?
If you've made it this far without checking your phone, congratulations! I'm impressed.
Now, how about putting your boredom to the test with my completely unscientific and rather ridiculous Boredom Barometer Quiz?
TAKE THE BOREDOM BAROMETER QUIZ
Go on. It might be the most entertaining thing you've done in the last five minutes.
Be here. Be wild. Be you. 🦋