10-30-2024 7:52pm

EDITORIAL: Using the Power of Boredom to Make You More Creative

Nate Weeks Editor

Many great art pieces, possibly even these seen recently at ShopSCAD in Savannah, have been inspired by boredom (Photographer Nate Weeks)

There were many wonderful things about my childhood in Middle Georgia. A few of my enjoyable memories from then are adventuring through beautiful forests, building simple forts from sticks with my siblings, playing games out in grassy fields, laughing at the ridiculous antics of the naturally funny members of my family, and gazing at beautiful scenes of nature that were never far from view.

It was a much simpler time, especially without cellphones and endless streaming media, but there were many moments when I was intensely bored.

As I have gotten older though, I have learned that boredom is not a bad thing, no matter how uncomfortable it might feel at times.

In recent years, scientists have learned more about the part of the brain that becomes more active when we are bored. When that happens, the default mode network (DMN) in our brain kicks in.

The DMN is a system of connected brain areas that become more active when you aren't focused on what is happening around you. When the DMN is activated and when you become introspective and do something like daydream, your mind can think more creatively.

The Mayo Clinic Health System published an article titled "Boost your brain with boredom" that claimed that being bored led to having more creativity and coming up with more creative solutions to problems. When we are bored, our brains also carry out the very important task of "consolidating memories and reflecting on lessons learned."

Boredom is the thing that regularly arrives between excitements and episodes of meaning: it is as natural as the tides, and in it an artist can drown.

Eric Maisel

Another thing to consider when always jumping from one task or activity to another is that thinking is a type of exercise. Scientists claim that an average person burns about 320 calories just to think. Just like any kind of exercise, it is possible to overdo thinking. Keeping your brain engaged and entertained all the time can cause mental fatigue and lead to an inability to think in more creative ways.

So next time you find yourself bored, don't rush to pick up your phone, log into Facebook, or turn on the T.V. Take some time to relax and let your mind rest. You just might come up with some of the best ideas of your life!

Manoush Zomorodi, author and host of Note to Self, gave an informative TED talk all about boredom