“[T]he monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” This quote is attributed to Albert Einstein.
A couple of weeks ago—don’t hold me to that; I lose track of time on the regular—I was driving home after running errands. My local National Public Radio station was starting a segment on the link between boredom and creativity. It’s believed constant stimulation, usually attributed to tech, has almost completely eradicated boredom. Before we pop the celebratory champagne, it’s also believed the absence of boredom is having a negative impact on our creativity.
Yikes!
The segment sounded interesting. Would you agree? I can see the correlation between dwindling boredom and struggling creativity. Between social media, click baits, and the rabbit hole of online research, I sometimes feel like I don’t give myself time to just sit and think.
However, rather than listening to the segment, I turned it off almost as soon as it started. In my defense, I had a lot to do, and I was already running behind schedule. What’s new? Instead I promised myself I’d listen to the segment online…one of these days. Apparently, that day hasn’t arrived. But I’ve read a couple of articles about the link between boredom and creativity, and the menace of distractions. I’ve read them while on line at the post office or waiting at the airport.
(Did you catch the irony there? I was distracted from being bored by reading online articles about boredom and creativity. Sad.)
Anyway, the basic theory goes like this: Boredom gives our minds time and space to wander. And these mental meanderings are considered essential to our creativity. This of course applies to all forms of creativity, whether you’re an author, songwriter, musician, artist, sculptor, designer. I can go on, but that would get annoying.
Instead of giving ourselves time and space to be bored, we seem to have trained ourselves to seek distractions.
What are people discussing on social media?
Ooh! What’s this breaking-news alert about?
Is today the day I complete The New York Times Strand puzzle without hints? (Seriously. Is it today? Or maybe tomorrow?)
Neil Gaiman is believed to have said this about boredom, “You have to let yourself get so bored that your mind has nothing better to do than tell itself a story.”
In one article on the benefits of boredom, a psychologist stated that when we allow our mind to really wander off, it could stray from our conscious into our subconscious. In that space, our minds are able to make different types of connections. I found this fascinating. These articles have persuaded me to schedule a full day of boredom. What about you?
I’ll leave you with this quote credited to Agatha Christie, “There’s nothing like boredom to make you write.”
Question: When was the last time you unplugged—even if just for a half day; baby steps—from your phone and/or your computer? If you never have, would you want to? Bonus question: Where would you go to be bored? A park? A beach? The mountains? The living room?
Patricia Sargeant writes romantic suspense as Patricia Sargeant, cozy mysteries as Olivia Matthews, and contemporary romance as Regina Hart. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, and Library Journal. When she’s not checking texts, reading breaking-news alerts, or logging onto social media, she hopes to be bored. Claim your free subscription to her monthly enewsletter at PatriciaSargeant.com.
Interesting question. I used to get bored sitting in a doctor’s office, especially if it was empty. TV can get boring sometimes as well as watching a movie. I guess any snippet of boredom will work.
I think you’re right about the snippets of boredom, Dru. I like your use of “snippet” as well. LOL!. I don’t like going to the doctor, though, so I’m too tense to be bored. LOL!
Interesting, but probably true. Last time I remember being bored, I was waiting for someone in a restaurant, no book and dead phone battery. I think I memorized the menu! I used to daydream while I walked, but audiobooks put an end to that (unless my phone battery dies again). I think I would love to head out on a gentle forest trail and be bored!
Oh, I love the idea of letting my mind wander while strolling on a gentle forest trail. Lovely!
I love this post, Patricia and think what you say is so very true! As a kid back in the 1960s, boredom was a regular thing. There were only three TV stations, no cell phones or internet, and for most of the summer we’d hang out outdoors riding bikes, playing catch or tag or sardines. But mostly I remember just sitting around and doing nothing. Watching the clouds roll over my head, or gazing at a dragonfly hovering over a flower bed. And it was great.
I think that our current need to constantly be engaged with something–be it scrolling through our news or social media feeds, listening to podcasts, or even reading a magazine or book–has been an enormous detriment to our society. Humans NEED to be bored sometimes. And yes, it’s times when I allow myself to be free in my thoughts while going on a bike ride or simply lying in my chaise lounge in the back yard, that I come up with my best ideas for my books. So let’s bring back boredom!
Perfectly stated, Leslie! Applause! It may seem silly, but once I’m past these deadlines, I’m going to schedule time to be bored. Well, first, I’ll schedule time to sleep, then time to be bored. Ha!
Lol, Patricia!
I definitely need to take the time to pause and let my thoughts meander… I’ve done an experiment where it’s silent in my car while I’m driving, and it feels weird to me. I’m used to always having music on.
We used to make it an annual thing to unplug as a family. I think we skipped the last year or two? But what it meant was going camping and having no tech around.
Jennifer, I love that you unplugged as a family. That’s such beautiful bonding experience. Thank you for sharing that with us. It’s inspiring.
Awww…. You’re so welcome!
I would probably go to the mountains and let my mind wander and soon come up with a story of someone missing, I bet.
Hilarious! Please let us know if you do that. LOL!
Ha ha, my second novel “Quest for Absence” is about the kidnapping of a twin taking place during the 1977 blackout in Manhattan.
The third of the trilogy “The Pen’s Shadow” of which I am re-editing now will be the author becoming involved in more than she understood, so I might need a couple of days away in the mountains.
LOL! Enjoy! And happy writing!
I have to return to editing. I am in week 8 of hip replacement recovery. Just not feeling motivated just yet.
I don’t have time to be bored!
Seriously, I do usually overpack my day. And, when I’m out for a run, I am listening to podcasts. I’ve got music going all day while working.
I got passes for paddle boarding again this summer, and the time I’m on the lake is one time that I have completely distraction free when I don’t go out with a friend. It’s been good for me in some ways. And not good in others. There are times I think I keep myself so busy so I don’t have time to think or reflect on my life. Which I know is the creativity direction you were going for with this post. 🙂
LOL! I overpack my days too. I really need to stop doing that. Every month, I tell myself I’ll do better scheduling my days next month. Five years later, … LOL! Good luck to both of us.
I relate to this so much! It kind of makes me want to throw my iPad into the creek by our house and take a stroll — maybe whilst carrying a parasol — or if it’s raining (which it currently is) just stare moodily out a window. I’m too good at entertaining/distracting myself. Here’s to boredom and creativity!
Here! Here, Marla! I’m going to try to prioritize boredom. LOL!
I don’t allow myself to get bored enough these days. Simply closing off distractions and letting one’s mind wander is a lost art. I may try some of that this weekend.
J.C., I am so there with you. Once I’m past these deadlines, I’m going to allow myself to get nice and bored. A nice cup of tea, my favorite quilt and silence. Heaven.
Wow, your post really made me think today, Patricia. So true–none of us is ever “bored” anymore (like Leslie, I have fond memories of being bored as a kid). I wonder whether keeping ourselves so busy these days is a defense against all that anxiety we could open ourselves to otherwise (you know, stuff beyond our immediate control). The world is moving so fast (or am I moving slower, sigh?) I think I would prefer to be bored at the beach (no anxiety there, other than possible sharks, ha.
I have fond memories of being bored as a child also. I loved all the make-believe worlds.
This is so true! Yes, that’s provocative, thinking about when we used to get bored. There’s always something to keep up with, something vital happening that we need to know about. And I guess those should be first person, me, not us. I’m going to think about this. And maybe not turn on the TV so much.
I love this post! And yes, getting so bored that your mind has space to play seems valuable for sure. We are deluged with notifications all day long now that are too disruptive for that process, often times.