By Anh Thu Truong
I will admit — the instant I get a twinge of boredom, I reach for my phone.
The second homework is done; the last period bell rings; the moment I get home from a socializing activity— it seems like my phone is always within arms’ reach.
It has become so normal that I don’t even notice it. When I’m mindlessly waiting for class to begin, when I’m standing in line in the grocery store and when I‘ve just woken up from my alarm. The act of picking up my phone to occupy my mind has become second nature, instinct even.
But this isn’t unexpected. Our electronic devices, if used sporadically, are designed to be addictive.
When was the last time you truly experienced boredom? Between going to school, studying, working, eating or hanging out with friends, you would believe that there’s not much time to be bored in a day. But if one were to add up the average screen time of an American teenager, the amount of time that many of us spend on our phones is equal to how many hours we are asleep. Recent studies have shown that 41% of American teenagers, ages 13 to 18, have a screen time of more than 8 hours per day.
This sets an alarming precedent for daily routines: we are afraid of boredom. When we actively fill every spare moment with distraction, we forget that these can be valuable opportunities for self-reflection and growth.
Do you remember everything on your Instagram feed? Of course not, but through the infinite videos and posts, it’s virtually impossible to run out of content to consume. These social media platforms are designed to entice users with notifications, special features, and stimuli that are hand-picked by algorithms. The instant gratification of seeing a funny video, receiving a text message and getting a plethora of likes and comments are all key responses that get us hooked and lead us right back into the loop.
The idea of boredom has always had a negative connotation attached to its name. It’s a term used to describe a feeling of unproductivity, a sense of discomfort as our minds scramble for something to do. It’s meant to be a problem to solve, something to be replaced or avoided — but never embraced.
Today, our world is saturated with too much distraction.
What if we reframe our perception of boredom? Instead of being a feeling to avoid, we can use it as a time to give our brains a break from working 24/7. Instead of turning to quick fixes, like scrolling on our phones, we can channel that time into doing activities that allow our minds to wander, rest, and more importantly — self-reflect. In a culture that constantly prioritizes mental stimulation, we’ve lost sight of how crucial it is to allow our brains to hit the breaks and pause momentarily.
I agree that being bored isn’t the most exciting state of mind to be in, nor is it one that many of us are actively seeking to be in. But creatively, boredom can be just as important as inspiration. Sometimes, all it takes is a state of boredom to get new ideas sprouted and developed, to allow your creativity to flourish.
According to Forbes, “In those moments that might seem boring, empty and needless, strategies and solutions that have been there all along in some embryonic form are given space and come to life.”
Our world is continuously advancing with the latest technologies and advancements, with little sight of slowing down. Just like how our culture looked vastly different twenty years ago, the pace of life will continue to shift our world in unexpected and profound ways. Amidst all this change, sometimes the best thing we can do is step away from the virtual world and embrace the thoughts of our own heads.
