Why Being Bored Is Good For Us - Time To Do Nothing!

Last updated by Katie M.

"Idleness is the mother of all vices". How do you feel about this statement, do you agree or disagree? In any case, the world is full of things to do, which gives us a thousand and one solutions to chase away boredom. Believe it or not, in reality, having regular downtime is actually good for us a helps us recharge our batteries. Although many of us dread having nothing to do, this time is actually valuable in helping us start over again stronger than ever. Find out why your free time is beneficial and why you shouldn't always look to fill up your agenda at all costs.

Why Being Bored Is Good For Us - Time To Do Nothing!
Contents: 

We are probably all tempted to fill all the voids in our lives and avoid boredom at all costs. Ennui is often quickly associated with idleness and laziness, yet it actually has real benefits, so ignore the taboo and learn to be bored.

The importance of allowing yourself to be bored

Boredom is wanting to do something, but not being able to. Throughout history, ennui has always lurked around men, today it has become a terrifying thing that we try to escape by all means. Queues, traffic jams, endless meetings, whenever we’re in these situations we always end up using new technologies to help us fill the void. As a result, we end up missing out on the benefits of our downtime.

What are the 5 hidden benefits of boredom?

Creativity, altruism, intelligence... lethargy has virtues that should not be neglected. So, on the count of 3, let’s start doing nothing! 1, 2, 3...

1. It boosts our creativity

By letting your brain rest, you give free rein to your thoughts and imagination. In fact, boredom would even tend to stimulate our brain. So, in order to create and learn to create, don't keep yourself busy all the time.

2. It pushes you to reach out to others

Doing nothing, letting one's thoughts wander, in short getting bored, pushes one to perform important and meaningful actions. That's how you get the idea to start a new hobby, to get involved in an association and thus to meet new people.

3. It’s good for morale and health

By knowing how to let go of our telephones, computers and so on, we are already learning how to detoxify ourselves from technology. We are stronger, we detach ourselves, and we no longer experience the stress and anxiety inherent when we are unable to check our smartphone. You relax completely, and the icing on the cake is that you'll sleep better!

4. It helps you concentrate on your tasks

By rehabilitating our brain to do only one thing at a time, we learn to concentrate more deeply and for longer. Not like when we split our attention time because of notifications or other distractions.

5. It stretches time

10 minutes spent doing nothing seems a lot longer than 10 minutes in the middle of something. So, getting bored changes our relationship with time. It makes us aware of all the possibilities available to us in a 24-hour day.

- Discover 10 morning routines that take less than 5 minutes. -

What are the causes of boredom?

Boredom has many facets: it can be linked to alcohol consumption, drugs, stress, health problems, dropping out of school, failure, etc. So how do we define boredom? In 2006, experts classified boredom into four categories. To do so, they asked students to describe how they felt when they were bored. This allowed them to define the types of boredom in a two-dimensional model, using arousal and valence criteria. In psychology, valence measures whether a feeling is pleasant (positive valence) or unpleasant (negative valence).

The first type of boredom, or "indifferent" boredom, was characterized by a low state of arousal and a slightly positive valence: the subject is relaxed, tired, but rather happy, indifferent to the outside world. In "calibration boredom", the individual is a little more awake, but their feeling is more negative: their thoughts wander, and they do not know what to do, without actively seeking to do something else. In "search of boredom", the subject is even more awake and their feelings even more negative. The last type of boredom, called "reactive", has the highest levels of arousal and the most negative valence: the individual is highly motivated to leave his or her boredom situation; it is a very unpleasant feeling and the most negative form of boredom.

Editor's note - Bored yes, brooding no!

If boredom does not lead to depression, musing, on the other hand, can be more dangerous. To let your thoughts run free is also to remember, to reflect and then not to ask "what should I do? "but "why?". And why can be harmful if it is not productive, but only feeds itself and leads us towards more and more nostalgia and melancholy.

🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!

#BornToBeMe

Why not also check out: 

Article presented by Katie M.

Discover the world through my eyes.

Read our latest articles here:

Test Out The 36 Questions That Lead You To Finding Love

Imagine if you could fall in love in just 36 questions? Well, it's possible! An experiment conducted by the American researcher in psychology, Arthur Aron, was set up to study this possibility. Thanks to the questions of the experiment, it is in fact possible to fall in love with a stranger or to rekindle the flame between two exes. Whether you believe the hype or not, it might be interesting to put things to the test and to discover the questions of the experiment! After all, these 36 little interrogations could lead you to finding the love of your life.

Mindfulness Meditation

Ah meditation! Who still hasn’t heard of it? For several years now, this practice has been gaining in popularity. Is it a need to slow down or a desire to find a haven of peace in an ever-changing and stressful world? Maybe. What exactly is mindfulness meditation? What are the benefits? And is it good for everyone? 1, 2, 3, breathe and dive into a more zen world!

8 Reasons Why Malignant Narcissists Are So Dangerous

If the title of this article hasn’t totally scared you away, then you are no doubt wondering what this beast of a person is really like. Well, a malignant narcissist is a step up from a typical narcissist and adds an antisocial personality disorder to the already intimidating mixture. Combined, these two personality disorders represent the relentless need for control, admiration, and power for selfish reasons, making folks with this diagnosis that bit scarier than classic manipulators. Here’s why these people are so terrifying, and how you can get your own back on them.

What Are The Weaknesses Of A Narcissist?

Each one of us has our own weaknesses that hold us back in life; be it at work or in relationships. However, on a more positive note, most of us have the will to work on them and transform them. That being said, once narcissists are brought into the picture, the idea that they want to work on their weaknesses doesn’t exactly seem feasible. For a deeper understanding of these narcissists and more insights into the workings of their minds, discover their weak spots and which pointers they struggle with on a daily basis, yet aren't willing to admit or work on.

Why Do Couples No Longer Fight To Save Their Relationships?

Seeing the number of couples who divorce or separate around us, a legitimate question arises and that is; do we fight less than previous generations to save our relationships? At the first sign of trouble, many of us seem willing to give up and move on to fresher pastures in the love department, that's right, we tend to believe that the grass is greener elsewhere. Is it because we were never truly head over heels for our partner? And, is it naïve to think that love can be everlasting?

I’m Nostalgic; But How Can I Stop Looking Back?

Whenever I have trouble sleeping, whenever I’m bored or whenever my thoughts wander, it’s not uncommon for me to find myself reliving my childhood vacations, or a delightful weekend in bed or even my wedding day. Sometimes I even shed a tear thinking about these moments in my past… Yes, I’m nostalgic, and I love revisiting memories, but that has to stop! Discover the steps to put in place if you want to live in the present!

I Still Suck My Thumb As An Adult

In general, thumb sucking ends around the age of 6. I say “in general” and not “normally”, because as an adult I don’t feel weird or particularly bothered by it. When I get stressed, I allow myself to let go and return to my childhood self by sucking my thumb. Those who know about it or catch me by surprise make me realize I should be ashamed… But is this habit a big deal? What if it makes me feel better? It’s certainly no worse than lighting up a cigarette or biting your nails…

Why Do Hugs And Physical Contact Make Me Feel Uncomfortable?

There are people who don’t like to be touched at all, and who are almost disgusted by physical contact. There are people who like to caress and be caressed for anything and everything, and there are people like me who always recoil when someone tries to touch them. Why do I shy away from physical contact? What if it’s all linked to the past?

10 Examples Of Text Messages A Narcissist Sends

Narcissists definitely move with the times, which is why many of them constantly troll dating sites for new victims. Chatting with a manipulator of this magnitude can be a rollercoaster experience, with dizzying heights that might lead you to believe you are in love, to gut-wrenching lows which will make you question your worth. For any raving narcissist, text message exchanges are a great way to reel in victims and follow through with their master plans for ultimate control over them. Are you texting someone you suspect to be a narcissist? The examples below could confirm your suspicions.

Are Narcissists Lonely?

Loneliness is one of society’s biggest enemies, and none of us are exempt from it, not even the most devilish of narcissists out there. In fact, throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, 36% of Americans claimed that they have never felt lonelier, which sets a scary benchmark for the wider population. Now, lots of us would no doubt immediately assume that narcissists are too independent and strong-willed to feel lonely, however, the truth is they are often the biggest victims of this phenomenon, yet simply have trouble expressing their inner malaise.

Wengood's favorite tunes 🎵

Wengood's playlist

wengood

  1. Only LoveBen Howard
    4:08
  2. Invalid date
  3. Fix YouColdplay
    4:55
  4. Beautiful DayU2
    4:08
  5. Thinking out LoudEd Sheeran
    4:41
  6. White FlagDido
    4:00
  7. Lay Me DownSam Smith
    4:13
  8. Nine Million BicyclesKatie Melua
    3:17
  9. Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae
    3:35
  10. Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey
    4:24
  11. Imagine - Remastered 2010John Lennon
    3:07
  12. Shake It OutFlorence + The Machine
    4:37
  13. Space Oddity - Love You Til Tuesday versionDavid Bowie
    3:46
  14. What A Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
    2:19
  15. With Or Without YouU2
    4:56
  16. HelloAdele
    4:55
  17. Don't Stop Me NowQueen
    3:29
  18. Skinny LoveBirdy
    3:21
  19. WingsBirdy
    4:12
  20. Californian SoilLondon Grammar
    3:41


"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." 

- Oscar Wilde


How to detect a narcissist

How to detect a narcissist

How to soothe an anxiety attack

How to soothe an anxiety attack