Are We Witnessing The Extinction Of Boredom?

I had a work pal who said he would like to spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement so that he could be alone to read. He was a brilliant man but just a tad odd.

I dont deal with boredom well. I go to the beach and stick my butt in a chair and within two minutes I'm taking a walk or in a book or on my phone.

I don't even own a smartphone so that's a non issue for me. However I still spend way too much time on the internet truly wasting time...waayyyy tooo much...I'm reading and responding to this post ain't I? lol

I'm a bit like Jeff though, something has to occupy my attention or I go a bit crazy, it can be a book though, I keep one in my car that I read during lunch, I read quite a bit in fact. However if I'm out for a walk I don't take any devices, I focus on just walking, or when I stop to take a break I focus on my surroundings, I can only handle that for maybe five minutes though unless there's something especially interesting to observe.

I have no desire whatsoever to just lay around on a beach. Even when I use to fish I took along reading material. I am bored with my job however, but that's a different kind of bored.

Robert,

As much as I also like to read...probably not to that extent! LOL!

Jeff,

I've never been one to just sit on the beach, always active, usually in the water, surfing or body surfing. My phone doesn't always go where I go and on purpose...

David,

I guess my "boredom" is usually out in the backyard garden, like yesterday, pulling weeds and other jobs that don't require much thought. NPR is usually with me, so "boredom" seldom an issue.

Like you and most others, do spend too much time on the Internet, between business stuff, FB and answering emails and such....

Rich

Boredom is the result of repetitiousness or activity that doesn't stimulate the mind. Every work on a factory assembly line? The epitome of boredom.

There are no benefits to boredom. Boredom creates agitation. Boredom is why teenage boys get into trouble (don't ask me how I know that). And never confuse boredom with idle down time. The later is beneficial. The former is not. Idle downtime is recuperative and therapeutic. Healthy idle downtime is different things to different people.

From what I've observed is that people who are staring at their phones all the time is because they are bored. Are they are really getting fulfilled and stimulated by checking their status on Facebook or texting all the time. Nope. Smart phones today are the equivalent of my generation growing up in front of the TV. In other words they look like they are doing something. But it's repetitious and frankly it becomes boring but people keep doing it because they don't what to do with themselves.

DK, I too hate the notion of lying around on a beach for a vacation. I can take about 2 hours of doing nothing. Even then I'm reading or napping. My vacations are actually very busy and fun.

Rich, I'm betting you enjoy that time in the garden. If so, you are certainly not bored.

"NPR is usually with me, so "boredom" seldom an issue. "

That's the thing with me, I almost never even have any kind of device on me, so I'm not even listening to music when out for a walk. In fact the radio in my car broke a few years ago and I haven't bothered to replace it so I don't even have music or radio when I'm driving around. I guess in those cases I am doing a lot of thought processing.

"Every work on a factory assembly line? "

Not in a factory but I did have an assembly line type job for several months...it was the worst! I would rather clean toilets.

I would love to know what boredom feels like. I've forgotten. My time to typically relax is when I can get out and just take photos. I have been trying to make myself get away from work for at least half of Sundays but it's so hard. We all have created such hectic lives for ourselves and it seems we only get busier. I recently made some changes in one of my full time businesses and it's been so stress relieving. So glad to see that weight gone.

We're not supposed to bring this up, so I'll word it this way, even you know "Who" took the 7th day to rest. Not because He needed the rest, but to show us we're not made to work 7 days a week. Our bodies require us to rest and many of us don't, which therefore leads to more stress and then we find ourselves sick and forced to get rest.

It is sad how these parents are spending more times on their phones then playing and watching their kids grow. They will regret it because they are only little for so long. I've always tried to remember that and be there for my daughter and become engrossed and interested in what she's doing or talking about. She's now a teenger and her days living home are becoming shorter and shorter. Something scary that happened with her last year reminded me to put my computer down when she comes home to talk to and spend time with her. I want her to know she comes first before work and before my phone. I've also learned to not answer the phone if I'm talking to her unless it's an urgent matter. I just leave it in another room.

I do still have friends who always seem to be bored on FB. I'd love to bring them over to my house and put them to work, ha ha...

Boredom is really thinking time. With all this information overload these days, our brains are not set up for this. Here is a resent article with a similar theme (that I'm doing now)

“Sometimes I miss my old mobile, but if we are to help our children resist tech addiction we first must tackle our own” https://gu.com/p/a9xjd/stw

We have 86 billion brain cells, and some 1000 connections or synapse per cell......some 100 trillion synapses in total. Divide that final number by 1000 and you have roughly the number of stars in the galaxy.

No more talk of information over load.

There is not a survival of the strongest, but an affluence of the most organized.

Dave

Chuck,

I guess my point here, is that our brains REQUIRE this boredom at times, to give it a rest, when it's functioning at 110%. Obviously, we can't STOP thinking, even when pulling weeds, but we CAN control the LEVEL of our thinking and boredom is a segment of that...

I do have music on at different times of day, usually at the end of the day. During the day, NPR is my background noise. Learn plenty through osmosis that way! LOL!

Jennifer sounds like YOU need to create some boredom and not wait for it to show up on it's own! That's why meditation is so popular and thought of as therapy. I've known people that are addicted to CHAOS and even subconsciously create problems so they can have something to work on!

Frank,
Yes, thinking is good! Putting out fires 24 hours a day is not and harmful. Like running your car engine at 7,000 rpm ALL day long, something gonna give!

The issue of Device Addiction is another topic altogether. But I brought it up, as what I see as a device/tool that people now use, to avoid "boredom"....

Rich

Jeff says - "I dont deal with boredom well." - I'm in that camp....but....I need boredom because it makes me realize that I need to do something else in order to keep fresh and speed up the brain waves. Boredom is a great thing because it's your body/brain telling you to get up off your butt and get busy. I love reading books, but it's something I do when I'm physically tired. Starting out the day doing it would be a bad thing, so my early day is heavily biased toward things physical.

David,

You're ASSUMING that ALL these connections are working properly.....not in my head! LOL!

Doug,

Yes, boredom can act as a slight tap on the shoulder and remind you about the leaky faucet or garbage that needs to go out, or you need to try and upload images again.....

Rich

Anyone practice meditation? It a great way to get out of your head and relax the brain for a little while.

Rich, I understand what you mean, but I think you confusing boredom from healthy downtime. You don't need to experience true boredom to give your brain a rest. That's what I mean by downtime. There is a difference. Boredom is not a desirable state of mind. I've been bored. It's not a fun condition. It has never helped me in any way. I've also give my brain a rest now and again. That's enjoyable and refreshing. They are not the same thing.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boredom

Rich,

People think their dogs are smart, wishfully. Well Fido only has 450 million cells.

We have a huge asymmetry to our universe.

Yet we do some of the dumbest things.

Dave....sparing a few brain cells since 1993......

Toby,

I haven't tried that in years. When I did try it, some class or something, and never really got good at it! Maybe trying too hard!

Chuck,

Yeah, maybe. I guess my definition is more about NOT having some mental project in your head, just sorta meandering around in your head, no direction or attended goals. Poor Man's Daydreaming maybe...opposite of staring at a smartphone, waiting for a friends response or the latest music video.....

Rich

Yeah Rich exactly. Daydreaming is a good example of what I'm talking about. Definitely different than staring at a phone. I've had to do that from time to time for various reasons. It really hard on the eyes after a while. Gives me a headache. Maybe that's because I'm getting old.

It’s good to have downtime away from computer and phone.

Rich, I read two books this week and started a third. I read them on my Kindle. I do so because I can adjust the font and place it on an angle easier on my eyes. I recommend reading this way.

I still purchase certain paper books but only as collectibles.

I often daydream because I am bored. lol

So long as there are traffic delays, there will be boredom.

Chuck,

Yeah, the phone, no friend of mine. Don't use it as most people do.

Janice,

I USED to read like you but have things to do. Keeping up with the yard work here in Florida is literally a full-time job, especially when the heat starts and everything starts to grow(mostly weeds!).

I do have a Kindle, Fire that I bought after somebody here mentioned it was on sale, but have only read 1 book! Just don't care for the device as a reader, old school, need a book in my hand. Use the Kindle, more like a tablet....

David,

Then that's the good "boredom" I'm referring to. Lack of some job or task, just relaxing the mind and body....

Jason,

Not sure frustration is the same as boredom!!! LOL!

Rich

From the time I wake up in the morning until my brain finally shuts down so that I can get to sleep - it's working - sometimes it's just busy work, sometimes it's dreaming of 'what might be, or what might have been". The problem with me is I haven't figured out how to make my brain stop running. It's like the proverbial person that doesn't let you get a word in edgewise to a conversation. The only thing I've found that helps - a good walk - yes, at 1230 a.m. or even 0130 sometimes.

I could be that man that would like solitary confinement so I could read - the problem these days is finding an interesting book or perhaps one that interests me.

Nature and being outside is never boring to me. TV is boring - and I haven't watched a TV program in over 5 years - and that was because I was in bed, unable to get out and about after surgery.

Hi Rich,
I was told by a source I respect..." You are never boring"...woohoo.
Downtime, only when asleep. Seems odd, but don't remember my dreams, so,I blank out.
Not glued to iPhone... Thank G.d.


..

RD,

Your version of "daydreaming" might be ALL you can hope for. I REALLY hate when at 3:34 AM, my brain kicks in and THEN I wish I was bored! LOL!

I read a LOT, what is your main interests then as far as reading and keeping your attention?

Ms.V,

YOU, BORING!!!??? My Dear, never!

Rich

Boredom is where I learned to train my eye.

Boredom is where you come across an important article you wouldn't have seen otherwise.

Boredom is the zone in which great ideas are born.

DK,

Not sure "scheduled boredom" applies to this thread. More of the sporadic boredom we experience in our lives every day.

Now with Smartphones, as soon as we begin to experience this "boredom" attack, we just click/swipe our phones and it's GONE!

Rich

"we just click/swipe our phones and it's GONE! "

No...just postpones it for a moment. Instead of doing something, we check our messages, e mails and then watch a Youtube video. Constructive boredom of the sort that makes us do something is a good thing, but being content with our phones is downright scary.

David - In my most recent experience, most customers preferred butt meetings, less time and expense. It wasn't until some sort of ceremonial deal-sealing that anybody came into a single room. Most of my meetings were with people as distant as the West Coast or at least distant parts of Maryland, so nobody's going to fly somewhere for a meeting or drive 3 hours each way unless it's a big deal.

"Now with Smartphones, as soon as we begin to experience this "boredom" attack, we just click/swipe our phones and it's GONE! "

I don't have a smart phone so if I'm stuck waiting somewhere I'm really stuck...in my own head...that can get scary. I am a master procrastinator though, so my home computer fits that bill nicely.

So, coming back to the office from my lunch break I notice two people having a smoke break over at the picnic table, not talking to each other, just staring down at their phones, servicing two addictions at once.

Several years ago I was a personal assistant to a big boss. Even then however I could switch off when at home. Now, with my phone getting work emails, being an admin on a works Facebook page, having my homepage on the browser log me into the staff area, I'm never away from work. Ever.

I believe it's in France that is now illegal to contact someone out of working hours, but people who work online have no working hours, as people expect them to be there 24/7

Although it's brought us all closer, I love my job, and I've made some absolutely fabulous real life friends because of it, the www can be the bane of my life.

David,

Yes, 2 ADDICTIONS!

Abbie,

Try and separate yourself from the phone and work. Not healthy and eventually not good for the job either.....

If possible, use the excuse that you've been REALLY sick and you seem like you might be getting weak again and need a couple of weeks off from after hour phone calls and then.....don't EVER TELL THEM YOU'RE OKAY......LOL!

Rich

.ok, somehow I managed to get my text onto the right of the page by clicking my keyboard. This I haven't done before!

um

ok it is back now... how weird.

I am very good in doing absolutely nothing. Now, how do I let my brain know that?

Rudy,

Pretty sure your brain knows! Don't fight it!!! LOL!

Rich

I surrender lol

Rudy,

Please text your brain this info...

Rich

I sometimes get this winter boredom up here in Michigan, just waiting for spring to get here. But I do get out for a brief walk in the park, if it's not extremely cold with camera in hand or not. I too have seen people with their phones glued to there hands in the park while the kids play as if they don't even know the kids are there.

Some people just need distraction,....without it they don't know what to do.

Randy,

Yes, a "bird" in the hand, is more important than the birds playing in the park.....old Chinese saying....pretty sure.....

Marty,

Yes and that "need" seems to be growing....

Rich

I'm sitting in the doctors reception area reading this in my mobile.

Abbie,

O.M.G.!!! IS this Doctor the one that helps people suffering from BOREDOM??? I hope so!!!

Rich

"I'm sitting in the doctors reception area reading this in my mobile. "

But that's also your job isn't it? ;)

I think I'm developing a real problem. I earn my entire living from being online now. I'm on the computer most of the day. I manage to get out for a hike most days but I check my phone often for messages. All this stuff is starting to invade my dreams in a disturbing way. Lately I've been fantasizing about running away from it all. Too much reliance on this stuff feels very unbalanced and unhealthy.

I agree Peggy, it's something I struggle with too but I have no excuse, I don't make any income off the internet to speak of.

Peggy,

"Be careful for what you Wish For"......Many here would like to have your problem! BUT, with that said, 24/7, isn't good for anyone and you need some, "ME" time and ONLY YOU can schedule that time.

"if only I could spend 8-10 hours I would be SO Succesful, WAIT, what about 14-16 hours!!! Even better!!! No,Wait, 20-23.5 hours!!!"

And on and on! Reality is this, more than likely, you could step away now, 30-40% more and things would be fine. Control the time people want to contact you and interrupt you, your quiet time and your CREATIVE time! Needs to happen.....

Rich

Remember the old days Rich, we didn't have phones to carry around like today. The only phones we had was a Rotary phone or a push button phone to carry around the house. Man things have come a long way these days.

Rich, I'll bet I could probably even spend half the time I currently spend on the computer and accomplish the same amount. That's my goal this year actually. I want/need to get more involved with actual people. We're going to move in a couple of months and I'm going to join some activities, sign up for some workshops, get together with old friends who will be around, and just generally try to spend more time having fun, relaxing, and creating. I need to hire a helper or two and I should be able to accomplish it.

Randy,

Yes, THOSE were the DAYS! Out on jobs and come in after 5 and have a pile of phone calls to make, hopefully the people were Hight Tech and had an answering machine or service! LOL!

Peggy,

Good to hear! The Longest Journey begins with the first step!

Rich

But that's what I'm saying. I was in a doctor's office and I was still working. It used to be you went in a doctor's office and read, 'The Lady' magazine. Or 'Gardeners World'. Donated by other bored patients.

You could not, and didn't even when you could, work.

Now there is no respite. I have two phones now. Just got, partly through this thread funnily enough. One has everything on it. One has no email syncing, just family and friends numbers, no social media.

I want to be bored again ...

Abbie,

That's makes you our Patron Saint! The poster child for the near extinction of Boredom! Technology and/or business has stolen those times that we used to have, reading old magazines in doctor's offices, reading and daydreaming at the same time! OLD "People" magazines with the story of this new young man, discovered on "Ellen", Justin Beiber or something.....

The End Is Near!!! LOL!

Rich

Woe is me, woe, woe, and thrice....woe ~ Frankie Howard in Up Pompeii