Embracing Boredom: Finding Creativity and Insight in Everyday Moments
Hi there. How are you?
How often do you allow yourself to be bored, or even just quiet?
It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. In the time of the smart phone, it’s easy to distract yourself at the slightest hint of boredom or discomfort.
I find myself picking up my phone when saving a large computer file takes more than a few seconds. If the line at the grocery store is long, I’m on my phone. I scroll on my phone while simultaneously watching TV, even when watching something as riveting as Love is Blind. It’s a bad habit and it’s a detriment to my creativity.
There are real benefits to boredom in life, art, and work. As I rebuild my creative practice, I’ve decided it would be helpful to lean into boredom a bit.
Moments of boredom can offer a pause, or a short respite for your brain and body in a world designed to distract, overwhelm, and overstimulate. A sense of boredom can create the space to daydream, which can hatch creativity, new ideas, and innovation.
The Benefits of Being Bored at Work by Alyson Meister and Aksinia Stavskaya
Forced boredom is/was part of the creative practice for many esteemed creatives including Maya Angelou, Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. Read more on the topic here.
Forced Boredom in Practice
My cats and their love of the outdoors are part of my forced boredom strategy
As the weather warms, my cats beg to go outside. The second I get home from work, Cleo assumes her position at the back door and proceeds to yell at me until I take her out. If the weather is nice, I usually oblige. It’s a nice way to decompress after work.
In the past, the phone would come outside with me. I’d play Wordle and my other NYT games while the cats putter around the yard. Now, I aim to listen, look, and think, sans phone. It’s only 15 or 20 minutes, but I feel more present and a little refreshed when we head back inside for dinner.
Every day after lunch, I take an outdoor walk before heading back to work. I’ve been trying to make the walk a bit more “boring” by going without my air pods. As movement often leads to primo brainstorming for me, removing the distraction of a podcast forces me to think more deeply.
A recent loose, scribbly sketchbook drawing. It’s unpolished, but I like it that way.
Is Being Bored Making My Art Better?
Drawing has been coming more easily to me lately. Has the “bored time” loosened me up? Perhaps. But really, I think it’s that I’ve relieved myself of all pressure to make, monetize, or even share my work.
I’m drawing because I want to and not because I should.
The work I’m making right now is different. It’s experimental and unpolished, and most importantly, I’m having fun! I need to keep reminding myself that art should bring joy to my life and shouldn’t become a chore.
Another recent sketchbook spread.
I Think I Like Being Bored
I must admit that I’m feeling pretty good about where I’m at right now. The more I slow down, get quiet, and just be in the moment, the better and more balanced I’m feeling. It’s getting easier to sit with the discomfort, face it, and embrace it.
What About You?
Do you incorporate moments of boredom or quiet into your daily routine? Do tell! I’m just a reply away and I love hearing from my virtual pen pals. And if you want to talk Love is Blind, I’m down for that too!
That’s All for Now
I’ve got a new project in the works that will be occupying much of my time, so my posts here may be infrequent. I’m hoping to be back with some good news soon!
Here’s Cleo in her favorite box. She looks miserable, or maybe crazy here, but I assure you, she’s happy. She loves that box, especially now that it got moved into a sunny spot in the living room.
