How Being Bored Can Change Your Life
The Productivity of Unproductivity
The last few months have been a rollercoaster for me.
I was getting things done, sure.
But I had way too much free time.
I’d stare at my wall for hours, feeling worthless.
The voice in my head wouldn’t stop:
“I should be doing something.”
“I should be working.”
“I should be moving forward.”
It was a terrible feeling.
I couldn’t bring myself to relax.
I couldn’t just… be bored.
But then, something clicked.
Boredom isn’t just about doing nothing — it’s about creating space for something amazing to happen.
Think about it.
When did you last have a brilliant idea while scrolling through social media?
Probably never.
But how about when you were just sitting there, doing nothing?
That’s it.
Childhood Creativity
Remember being a kid?
I do.
I loved clay.
I loved to make things with clay using my creativity and imagination.
I’d think of new characters to create.
I’d grab my clay and start molding.
My imagination would run wild as I shaped the clay.
Looking back, I realize this is where my creativity came from.
Those seemingly empty hours weren’t wasted.
They were chances to create and imagine.
This childhood experience taught me something important:
Boredom can be a springboard for creativity.
Boredom isn’t the enemy. It’s a catalyst for creativity.
Always Busy, Never Bored
Fast forward to today.
We’re always busy.
Always distracted.
Social media is designed to keep us occupied 24/7.
The moment we have nothing to do, we reach for our phones.
But have you ever wondered what would happen if you did the opposite?
What if you just… didn’t pick up your phone?
The 15-Minute Solution
Here’s a simple trick I started this year:
I put a 15-minute timer on TikTok and Instagram. For each day.
This allows me to:
Post content
Check comments
Watch the 500 reels my friends keep sending me
But that’s it.
No more doom scrolling.
No more mindless distractions.
I learned this trick from a YouTube channel (Sleepy Charlie)
The Struggle is Real (But Worth It)
I’ll be honest.
Even two months in, I sometimes find myself reaching for my phone instinctively.
It’s hard.
But fighting that habit is game-changing.
We need to let ourselves think.
To be bored.
To create.
The Motivator
Here’s another benefit of boredom:
It can motivate you to get things done.
When you’re truly bored, suddenly those tasks you’ve been putting off don’t seem so bad.
It’s better than being bored, right?
This is another way to use boredom to your advantage.
It inclines you to be productive.
Some people might call this dopamine detox, but I think both work the same way.
We’re afraid to be alone with our thoughts.
Now, I get it.
Your thoughts can be scary.
I think that’s why everyone is so obsessed with distractions nowadays.
We’re afraid to be alone with our thoughts.
It can be uncomfortable to just sit there and think.
Trust me, I know this feeling.
But it’s also helped me figure out some stuff about myself.
With all this time to think, I’ve been able to:
Take a look at myself
Seriously figure some stuff out
Get to know myself better
It will help you too
Now, I’m not saying to be bored all the time.
Obviously, get done what you need to get done.
But if you never give yourself time to just think, you’ll never allow yourself to be creative.
Maybe I’m just a little naive.
Maybe this isn’t a groundbreaking realization for some people.
But regardless, it made a difference in my mindset.
And maybe it’ll help you too.
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