The Bizarre Science of Boredom. Yes, Doing Less Makes You Creative
Thinking about it, being bored is a weird double-edged sword.
Growing up, I was taught to keep myself busy. Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Workshop, or so I’d heard. Later, the military reinforced it that message. My training emphasized the importance of always having something to do, something to fix, and something to prepare for.
And I mean always.
If you weren’t actively working, you weren’t contributing. Boredom? Some commanders consider that a chargeable offense! That was for people who didn’t know the value of their time and you best not be one of them.
I started noticing something, though. It wasn’t in the middle of the chaos or the busyness, but in the dull moments, like walking the dog, folding laundry, taking a long shower, when my brain seemed to come alive. Ideas would just appear! Problems that had been bothering me for days suddenly seemed solvable!
So it turns out, being bored wasn’t draining creativity.
It actually fuels it.
It made me reflect that maybe boredom isn’t the enemy. I believe that boredom really is a quiet nudge we need. After all, isn’t being better at creativity something to strive for? So, why not be better at it?
Default Mode Network
At the centre of it all is something called the Default Mode Network (DMN). This network in your brain becomes active during those idle moments when you’re not focused on anything. Like when you’re staring out the window, waiting for fish to bite bait, or just walking.
The DMN is a group of brain regions that light up when your mind is at rest and wanders. Essentially, when you’re not bombarding your brain with tasks, it switches gears into what scientists call “spontaneous cognition.” This is where your mind connects ideas you didn’t even know were related, giving rise to new insights and solutions.
Or you know, creative thinking.
Studies found that repetitive or low-demand tasks, which engage the DMN, significantly enhance divergent thinking. This is the mental process crucial for generating creative ideas. Neuroimaging studies also show that the DMN becomes active during periods of “mind-wandering,” or boredom. Therefore, activities like taking a shower often lead to sudden epiphanies as the brain is essentially solving problems behind the scenes while you’re on autopilot.
But without space to breathe, DMN isn’t worth much. Constant distractions, like scrolling your phone or multitasking, often counters DMN. In a world where busyness is glorified, it turns out boredom might actually be the brain’s secret weapon for thinking outside the box.
We did invent a “productivity debt” that we force ourselves to pay. I’d also like to shamelessly plug the article below!
Types of Boredom
Psychologists often describe boredom as a state of uninterest or disengagement. It is often describe it as a mismatch between an individual’s need for stimulation and the environment’s ability to meet that need.
But, boredom is not apathy.
Apathy involves a deeper disconnection, a total absence of motivation or concern. While boredom implies a desire for change or action, apathy suggests an indifference to such possibilities. Boredom might nudge you to explore, think, or create. But apathy leaves you stuck, unresponsive to opportunity.
And yes, boredom is in the same neighborhood as apathy, but they do not live with each other.
We can split the concept of boredom into two types.
Productive boredom is when this restless mental state leads to constructive or creative outcomes. It occurs when we embrace the lull, allowing our brains to wander freely and engage the DMN. Examples include brainstorming new ideas during a walk, solving a problem while folding laundry. Hell, it might even be developing an innovative solution after a day of seemingly pointless meetings. The key is that productive boredom provides space for introspection and divergent thinking. It is those two factors that facilitate creative breakthroughs.
I like to think of it as a mental state where attention wanes just enough to allow daydreaming and divergent thinking without descending into frustration. It occurs when external demands are minimal but not entirely absent.
Destructive boredom happens when the discomfort of boredom drives someone towards counterproductive or even harmful activities. Here, the individual seeks instant gratification through distractions. Such examples include excessive scrolling on social media, binge-watching, or indulging in unhealthy habits. In these cases, boredom doesn’t lead to growth, but stagnation. Then, negative consequences.
To me, destructive boredom really manifests when monotony becomes stifling. This leads to frustration, disengagement, and even depression.
The Goldilocks Zone Of Boredom
Boredom is frequently viewed negatively, yet when it’s done well, it can be amazing. I call this the “Goldilocks Zone Of Boredom.” This is where the brain can wander without completely disengaging. So, how can we find the balance between overstimulation and dozing off?
To achieve productive boredom, the environment must offer enough stimulation to keep the mind active but not overwhelmed. If you’re sitting in total stillness for hours, you’re likely to tip into apathy. But if you’re juggling multiple distractions, you’re too overstimulated.
Activities like folding laundry can achieve this balance, walking the dog, or simply just scribbling. These low-stakes activities frequently include a moderate amount of cerebral and physical exertion. These exercises are easy enough to clear your mind, yet they’re interesting enough to keep you from falling asleep. This is where your DMN thrives, quietly connecting dots and generating ideas in the background.
A 2014 study in by the University of Central Lancashire found that people who performed mundane tasks like reading a phone book were more creative afterward. The repetitive nature of these tasks allowed their minds to wander into divergent thinking. Similarly, neuroimaging studies have shown DMN activation peaks during passive, low-demand activities.
Our constant need for stimulation is the antithesis of the Goldilocks Zone. This includes, but not limited to, endless scrolling, binge-watching, multitasking. The problem is habitual as we use micro-distractions. Lots of them. This causes the DMN to shut off.
But different cultures define boredom differently. What feels mind-numbing in Thailand might be meditative in New Zealand. And vice versa! Individual tolerance for monotony varies, making the “right kind of boredom” a subjective experience.
While the Goldilocks Zone sounds ideal, it’s tough to pin down what constitutes “just enough” stimulation. For some, coloring books is wonderfully relaxing. So, it really matters on the person and on the context.
You Do You
At the end of the day, you have to do you. I can’t define what boredom looks like for you, but I do hope this framework helps.
Boredom isn’t just twiddling your thumbs and staring at the wall, even though that's the usual temptation for a definition. To me, boredom is a state where the DMN is poised to take over. This isn’t guaranteed, though. For creativity to emerge, you need the right combination of knowledge, skills, and motivation.
So in a weird way, I guess I’m saying to bored “correctly.”
The DMN is activated in more than just boredom. Light tasks, meditation, or even quiet moments can turn it on. The key difference is mental freedom. For instance, a passive activity like walking activates the DMN more consistently than being forced into boredom, like sitting in a traffic jam. Why? Well, it's nicer to go for a walk than sit angrily in a car.
Internal states like curiosity, mood, and emotional arousal significantly affect how the DMN translates boredom into creativity. External conditions nudge the DMN into gear, but the magic happens when your mind is ready to wander.
Monotony can lead to productive boredom, but this isn't always the outcome. You can become frustrated rather than inspired if you force yourself to be bored without the mental preparation.
So what's the takeaway?
Boredom isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for creativity, but setting the conditions and allowance might just be what we need.
Would you consider a follow?
https://asymmetriccreativity.medium.com/
