This is why boredom can actually be good for you

Doing nothing? We shouldn't even think about it. In every empty moment, we scroll endlessly on our phones, turn on Netflix at home, and listen to podcasts on the go. Boredom seems like something we want to avoid at all costs. Yet, psychologists and scientists say: boredom isn't bad at all. In fact, it can actually be good for you.

Boredom isn't a pleasant feeling. We want to fill every moment of our day, otherwise, we'll be overcome by a sense of unease. Yet, boredom does serve a purpose.

In an article on the Psychology Magazine website, Professor Arthur C. Brooks emphasizes that boredom helps us find meaning in life. When we're bored, our brain switches to what's known as "rest mode," a state in which thoughts can wander freely. This wandering can lead to reflection: you ask yourself what you're doing, what you find important, what energizes you. These are questions you often don't get around to in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Another benefit of boredom is that it actually fuels creativity. Scientists at the University of Central Lancashire had subjects perform a boring task, such as copying phone numbers, and found that they had more original ideas afterward than people who hadn't done so.

This is also described by the scientific news website Scientas , which describes how boredom at work can make people more creative . However, there's a downside: if you're bored for a long time, it can degenerate into a "boreout."

If you find yourself bored, it's helpful not to immediately suppress the feeling with your phone. Endlessly scrolling through social media won't help anyway. Psychologie Magazine recommends doing absolutely nothing for at least fifteen minutes a day: no screen, no music, no podcasts. Staring out the window or taking a walk without distractions can be enough.

It also helps to train your attention by choosing a puzzle or a book instead of endlessly scrolling. This way, you'll learn to entertain yourself better and discover that boredom doesn't necessarily mean emptiness, but can actually spark new ideas.